Nov - OSCA
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Nov - OSCA
The O•S•C•A•R © The Community Voice of Old Ottawa South Year 32 , No. 9 Ottawa Farmers Market: A Season of Success By Sarah Trant I NOVEMBER 2006 The Ottawa South Community Association Review t seems like only yesterday that the Ottawa Farmers’ Market opened in Lansdowne Park. In fact it was Sunday, July 2nd when, for the first time, a determined core of some twenty vendors set up their booths for business to find, almost before the 8.00 a.m. official opening time, eager shoppers were already lining up. And there was a lot to line up for. Vegetables and fruits fresh from the field, all sorts of meats from beef to bison and all points in between, hamburgers to sausages and beyond; small-batch created preserves, award-winning honey, hand crafted truffles and cheeses, breads, pies, squares and cakes, plants and flowers, herbs and designer salad greens. Since then the numbers of shoppers has increased steadily, “rain or shine”. Ottawa clearly loves this market and, if the results of the survey which has been measuring the public’s response is anything to go by, 99.9 % of all those surveyed emphasised that not only did they love the opportunity to “buy fresh and buy local”, but that they wanted it to stay. Not just stay, but stay in its present location – Lansdowne Park. Ottawa Farmers’ Market is unique in that it is a producer-based entity. Once Ottawa was home to other similar markets but the City’s decision back in the ‘70’s, which allowed vendors to buy product for re-sale, heralded the beginning of the decline of local producer presence. With the sanctioning of reselling, Ottawa’s market equation changed. Vendors were free to buy produce from the Toronto/Montreal fruit, vegetable and plant brokers for a song – and price it accordingly. That decision rang the death-knell for many local farmers who were in no position to compete. The hundreds of local producers who used to supply those markets dwindled to a handful. Only the strongest could survive, fifteen of which form the backbone of today’s Ottawa Farmers’ Market– part of a group which has grown from the twenty of July to the 57 producers who have product for sale today. Andy Terauds, President of the Ottawa Farmers’ Market Association and owner/operator of Acorn Creek Garden Farm, emphasises that “although it’s good to see how the vendor numbers have grown, we need a lot more to ensure the viability of the enterprise as well as offer our public a greater diversity of product. Our first year has succeeded beyond our wildest dreams. We know now, for sure that the potential for growth is out there. “Our success story has sent out a strong signal to the area’s agricultural community. Positive sales figures should tweak the interest of other farmers, who are having difficulties, who now might put in a crop earmarked for the market. I think that this enterprise could be seen as a catalyst for change and revitalization in Ottawa’s agricultural sector.” With today’s growing emphasis on “buying fresh, buying local”; and the evidence that foods from mega-food producers can carry their own mega health problems, as well as the hard evidence of the steady growth in the market’s shopping public, you might think that nothing could stop a happy ending to what has been a great beginning. As the season draws to a close and the vendors prepare to pack up their vehicles for the close of the 2006 season at the end of October, it would be good to know that the opportunity to buy quality product, locally grown and harvested often on the day of sale, will remain a fact of life in Ottawa. Sadly this is not a story that guarantees a “and they all lived happily ever after”. The facts are that the Ottawa Farmers’ Market was started, with the support of the City, as a twoyear pilot project. Its future – including its location – is far from carved in stone. This can only happen if its public becomes engaged. With the active support of the community, at the political level, the nation’s capital can have a permanent farmers’ market that well could grow to rival those of other cities. It was the City of Ottawa that provided the twoyear window of opportunity for this venture. It is only the City of Ottawa that can ensure its future in Lansdowne. Help Santa Toy Parade Nov 18 - 11 am By James Hunter T he ‘Help Santa Toy Parade’ is celebrating its 37th anniversary. Every year, the Fire Fighters’ Association has been organizing the event and collecting toys along the parade route for distribution to the less fortunate children in Ottawa-Carleton. The parade has evolved into a significant event drawing tens-of-thousands of people who line the Parade route and share their generosity. Participants are entertained to the sights and sounds of floats, bands and clowns produced locally and from around the Province. Fire fighters will collect new toys and cash donations along the route. The parade will start at 11 a.m. at Elgin and Laurier, City Hall, head West on Laurier Street, turn South on Bank Street, and finish at Landsdowne Park. For more information: www.toyparade.org Municipal Election 2006 Candidate Update OSCA meets three mayoral candidates.. p. 6 Candidates for Mayor …. pp. 26 – 28 Candidates for Councillor … pp. 28 – 31 Candidates School Board Trustee pp. 32 - 34 Page The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR The OSCAR The OTTAWA SOUTH COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION REVIEW 260 Sunnyside Ave, Ottawa Ontario, K1S 0R7 www.OldOttawaSouth.ca/oscar Please Note: The OSCAR Has No Fax The OSCAR PhoneLine: 730-1045 E-mail: oscar@oldottawasouth.ca Editor: Mary Anne Thompson Distribution Manager: Craig Piche Business Manager: Colleen Thomson Advertising Manager: Gayle Weitzman oscarads@oldottawasouth.ca 730-1045 730-5838 730-1058 (not classy ads) NEXT DEADLINE: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17 The OSCAR is a community association paper paid for entirely by advertising. It is published for the Ottawa South Community Association Inc. (OSCA). Distribution is free to all Old Ottawa South homes and businesses and selected locations in Old Ottawa South, the Glebe and Billings Bridge. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily of The OSCAR or OSCA. The editor retains the right to edit and include articles submitted for publication. FOR DISTRIBUTION INQUIRIES, CALL 730-5838 AND LEAVE A MESSAGE The OSCAR thanks the following people who brought us to your door this month: ZONE A1: Kathy Krywicki (Coordinator), Mary Jo Lynch, Brian Eames, Kim Barclay, Marvel Sampson, Wendy Robbins, Ron Barton, Jim and Carrol Robb, Kevin and Stephanie Williams. ZONE B1: Ross Imrie (Coordinator), Andrea and Cedric Innes, the Montgomery family, Laurie Morrison, Norma Reveler, Stephanie and Kulani de Larrinaga. ZONE B2: Lorie Magee Mills (Coordinator), Leslie Roster, Hayley Atkinson, Karen Landheer, Caroline and Ian Calvert, Sheilagh Stronach, Matthew and Graeme Gaetz, Kathy Krywicki. ZONE C1: Laura Johnson (Coordinator), the James-Guevremont family, the Williams family, Sylvie Turner, Lynne Myers, Bob Knights, Jeff Pouw, the Franks family. ZONE C2: Craig Piche (Coordinator), Alan McCullough, Arthur Taylor, Charles and Phillip Kijek, the Brown family, Kit Jenkin, Michel and Christina Bridgeman. ZONE D1: Bert Hopkins (Coordinator), the Crighton family, Emily Keys, the Lascelles family, Gail Stewart, Bert Hopkins, Mary Jane Jones, the Sprott family. ZONE D2: Janet Drysdale (Coordinator), Ian Godfrey, Eric Chernushenko, Aidan and Willem Ray, the Stewart family. ZONE E1: Mark Fryars (Coordinator), Brian Tansey, Doug Stickley, Wendy Johnson, Anna Cuylits, Ryan Lum, Mary O’Neill. ZONE E2: Nicola Katz (Coordinator), Frida Kolsster-Berry, Mary-Ann Kent, Glen Elder and Lorraine Stewart, the Rowleys, Dave White, the Hunter family, Brodkin-Haas family, Christina Bradley. ZONE F1: Carol and Ferg O’Connor (Coordinator), Jenny O’Brien, Janet Jancar, the Stern family, T. Liston, Ellen Bailie, Niki Devito, Dante and Bianca Ruiz, Walter and Robbie Engert. ZONE F2: Bea Bol (Coordinator), the Tubman family, Karen Fee, Shaughnessy and Kyle Dow, Paulette Theriault, Mark McDonald, Bea Bol, Jill Moine, Paris Dutton. ZONE G: Jim and Angela Graves (Coordinator), Peggy and Brian Kinsley, Shelly Lewis, Melissa and Timo Cheah, Claire and Brigitt Maultsaid, Jane Kurys, Roger Ehrhardt, Norma Grier, the Ostrander-Weitzman family. Echo Drive: Alex Bissel. Bank Street-Ottawa South: Rob Cook, Tom Lawson Bank Street-Glebe: Craig Piche. NOVEMBER 2006 CONTRIBUTIONS Contributions should be in electronic format sent either by e-mail to oscar@oldottawasouth.ca in either plain text or WORD format, or as a printed copy delivered to the Firehall office, 260 Sunnyside Avenue. SUBSCRIPTIONS Moving away from Old Ottawa South? Know someone who would like to receive The OSCAR? We will send The OSCAR for one year for just $40 to Canadian addresses (including foreign service) and $80 outside of Canada. Drop us a letter with your name, address, postal code and country. Please include a check made out to The OSCAR. SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS The OSCAR is sponsored entirely from advertising. Our advertisers are often not aware that you are from Old Ottawa South when you patronize them. Make the effort to let them know that you saw their ad in The OSCAR. They will be glad to know and The OSCAR will benefit from their support. If you know of someone providing a service in the community, tell them about The OSCAR. Our rates are reasonable. FUTURE OSCAR DEADLINES November 17 (December issue), December 22 (January issue), January 19 (February issue), February 16 (March issue), March 20 (April issue), April 20 (May issue), May 18 (June issue), June 15 (July/August issue). The Old Firehall Ottawa South Community Centre HOURS PHONE 247-4946 MONDAY TO THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY 9 AM TO 9 PM 9 AM TO 6 PM 9 AM TO 1 PM* CLOSED *Open only when programs are operating, please call first. WHAT’S THAT NUMBER? Ottawa South Community Centre - The Old Firehall Ottawa South Community Association (OSCA) Ottawa Public Library - South Branch Lynn Graham, Public School Trustee - lynn.graham@ocdsb.ca Kathy Ablett, Catholic Board Trustee Centretown Community Health Centre CARLETON UNIVERSITY CUSA (Carleton U Students Association) Graduate Students Association Community Liaison Mediation Centre Athletics CITY HALL Bob Chiarelli, Mayor of Ottawa (bob.chiarelli@city.ottawa.on.ca) Clive Doucet, City Councillor (clive.doucet@city.ottawa.on.ca) Main Number(24 hrs) for all departments Community Police - non-emergencies Emergencies only Serious Crimes Ottawa Hydro Streetlight Problems (burned out, always on, flickering) Brewer Pool Brewer Arena City of Ottawa web site - www.city.ottawa.on.ca 247-4946 247-4872 730-1082 730-3366 526-9512 233-5430 520-6688 520-6616 520-3660 520-5765 520-4480 580-2496 580-2487 3-1-1 236-1222 9-1-1 230-6211 738-6400 3-1-1 247-4938 247-4917 NOVEMBER 2006 The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR Page LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The OSCAR welcomes letters on subjects of interest to the community or in response to previous articles. All letters must disclose the name of the writer, as well as the address and phone number. Lettters may be edited for length, clarity, and libelous statements. The opinions of the writers are not necessarily those of the newspaper or its editor. Email your letters to oscar@oldottawasouth.ca or leave in print at the Firehall. We Need Your Help To Deliver Lightbulbs Dear Editor H ello, Would you and your family be able to do something to help the environment? Project Porchlight is delivering 200,000 free Compact Flourescent light bulbs to homes in Ottawa. These bulbs use significantly less electricity than conventional bulbs. These are the compact fluorescent bulbs that use considerably less electricity than regular bulbs. The 13 watt bulb is equivalent to a 60W regular bulb in the amount of light produced. As well, the bulbs last longer than incandescents: five to ten years.For more information, please see their website: http://www. onechange.org. If every household in Canada replaced just one regular light bulb with a compact fluorescent, the reduction in pollution would be the equivalent of taking 66,000 cars off the road. We need your help to deliver in Old Ottawa South! Would you be able to volunteer to deliver bulbs on your block (or all of) of your street? It’s just a matter of going door-todoor and dropping a bulb or coupon for a free bulb in the next few weeks. They do require that a record is kept of all deliveries. Please email back to me with your name, address, phone number, and what blocks you could do; so that I can organize this. Also, I would appreciate it if you have friends and neighbours in Old Ottawa South who you think might Will We See Equal Time For...? Dear Editor, I read with interest the lengthy article in which Chris Bradshaw appeals to “older greens” to join the Green Party. I hope we will see equal time in coming issues for other partisan interests. Will we see an article inviting red Tories to come back to the Conservative tent? Waffle veterans to reactivate the NDP? Trotskyites to rescue the Communist Party? Maybe even the Martin and Chrétien camps to get behind a new leader? Just asking. Don Cummer Send your comments to oscar@oldottawasouth.ca or drop them off at the Firehall, 260 Sunnyside Avenue. Why Don’t We Have Truck Side Guards? Dear Editor A nother person has died under the rear wheels of a big turning truck, this time at the corner of King Edward and Rideau streets in Ottawa. In the spring in Toronto, two cyclists died similarly. These deaths are needless. If our federal and provincial governments required truck side guards, this would prevent pedestrians and cyclists from being dragged under - instead they would be pushed away. Truck side guards are the standard in Europe. They save lives. They streamline the truck and save gas. It’s time for Ontario and all of North America to wake up and start saving lives. tOM Trottier help out, if you could email this to them. Many hands make the job light! This is a great opportunity for kids to make a difference too! For people interested in delivering free light bulbs in OOS, please contact: James Hunter thehunters@rogers.com. We mostly need East of Bank Street Thanks! James Hunter The conservation program will generate $10 million in electricity savings for Ottawa residents. How many light bulbs does it take to change Ottawa? 200,000. An ambitious energy conservation campaign was launched today in Ottawa. Project Porchlight is a notfor-profit conservation group, based in Ottawa South. With the generous support of Hydro Ottawa, Porchlight teams and volunteers from across Ottawa will deliver 200,000 compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs door-to- door to households in Ottawa over the next two months. Project Porchlight is looking for 300 volunteers to help light up streets in communities across Ottawa. Porchlight volunteer teams are now out delivering bulbs in Ottawa neighbourhoods, marking the beginning of a 10-week delivery program. Residents who do not receive a bulb will get a coupon redeemable at Giant Tiger stores. Project Porchlight seeks volunteers to help deliver bulbs to every street in the Capital. Volunteers who want to join the Porchlight team and deliver bulbs on their own street, in their building, or through their community group should contact Porchlight’s volunteer coordinator at john-david@onechange.org. Project Porchlight is made possible by Hydro Ottawa and is sponsored in part by The City of Ottawa, Giant Tiger, TD Financial Group, Rogers TV, Globe Electric, The Ottawa Citizen, and 106.9 The BEAR. Remember our children are back at school. Please drive carefully! f Page The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR NOVEMBER 2006 WHAT’S HAPPENING AT THE LIBRARY Sunnyside Branch Library Fall Programs Children Storytimes/Contes Babytime (Newborn-18 months) / Bébés à la biblio (De la naissance à 18 mois) Tuesdays, Ocr. 31-Dec 17, 2:15 p.m. (30 min.) Toddlertime (Ages 18-35 months) / Tout petits à la biblio (Pour les 18-35 mois) Tuesdays, Oct. 31-Dec. 17, 10:15 a.m. (30 min.) Or Thursdays, Nov. 2-Dec. 19, 10:15 a.m. (30 min.) Storytime (Ages 3-6) / Contes (Pour les 3-6 ans) Wednesdays, Nov. 1-Dec. 18, 10:15 a.m. (30 min.) Special Children’s Programs Books! Books! Books! Stories and a craft for 5-8 year olds Saturday, Nov. 25, 2:00 p.m. (45 min.) Registration required Winter Wonderland Stories and a craft for 5-8 year olds Saturday, Dec. 16, 2:00 p.m. (45 min.) Registration required Adult Computer Courses Basic Internet Search Techniques Discover basic Internet search techniques. Participants should have some previous experience in accessing the Internet. Friday, Nov. 3, 10:30 a.m. (1.5 hrs.) Registration required. What do I read next? Have you finished off all your favorite author’s books? Looking for some direction to find a new reading love? Then come to the library to learn about the electronic tools we have to solve your problem. Friday, Dec. 1, 10:30 a.m. (1 hr.) Registration required. Sunnyside Book Clubs Mother Daughter Book Club A place for girls and the special women in their lives to share excellent books. Ages 10 to 12. (1 hr.) Mondays,Nov. 20, Dec. 18, 7:00 p.m. (1 hr.) Registration Required You and me reading group for 8-9 year olds For boys and girls ages 8-9 and their caregiver to have fun together through their love of Alta Vista Branch Library Alta Vista Branch 2516 Alta Vista Dr. Register: 613-737-2837 x3 Adult Programs Adult Book Chats The Tiger Claw by Shauna Singh Baldwin Thursday, Nov. 2, 2 p.m.(1 hr.) The Good Husband by Gail Godwin Thursday, Dec. 7, 2 p.m. (1 hr.) Causerie Littéraire Défenses légitimes de Doric Germain Mardi, le 21 nov., 14 h Le vieux qui lisait des romans d’amour de Luis Sepulveda mardi, le 19 déc., 14 h Tuesday Book Group Meets every two weeks to discuss non-fiction books. The Pagan Christ by Tom Harpur Nov. 7, 21, Dec. 5, 19, 7 p.m. ABCs of Fraud Learn how to become a tough target for fraud and scams and avoid becoming a victim of identity theft. Free admission. Thursday, Nov. 2, 6:30 p.m.(1.5 hrs.) English Conversation Group Practise your English Every Monday Nov. 6 to Dec. 11 1:00-2:30 p.m. Knitters helping Knitters Join this group that meets monthly to share ideas and offer assistance to other knitters. Tuesday, Nov. 21, 6:30 p.m(1.5 hrs) Teen Programs Teen Book Club Drop in and share some great reads with other teens. Tuesday, Nov. 28, 7 p.m. (1 hr.) Fantastic Fiction Teen Book Club Drop in to discuss science-fiction and fantasy books with other teens. Bring ideas for some great reads! For more information please call: 613-737-2837 x3 Teen Chick Lit Book Club If you love “Gossip Girl” or enjoy reading anything between teen and adult books bring your ideas for favourite reads! For information please call: 613-737-2837 x3 reading. Tuesdays, Nov 21, Dec. 19, 7:00 p.m. (1 hr.) Registration Required guyzone A monthly lunch hour book adventure for guys in grade 7 and 8 at the Sunnyside Library. Fridays, Nov. 3, Dec.1, 12:05 p.m. (45 mins.) Registration required. girlzone A monthly lunchtime book chat group for girls in grade 7 and 8 at the Sunnyside Library. Fridays, Nov. 10, Dec. 15, 12:05 p.m. (45 mins.) Registration required. Sunnyside Adult Book Club Drop by, meet new people and join in stimulating discussions on selected titles in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Usually last Friday of every month at 2 p.m. Ottawa Library is a Good Place A good library is a place, a palace where the lofty spirits of all nations and generations meet.” Samuel Niger (1883-1956) he Canadian Oxford Dictionary defines aware as: “Conscious; not ignorant; having knowledge”. The Ottawa Public Library (OPL) proclaimed October as Library Awareness Month, in concert with Canadian Library Month and Ontario Public Library Week (Oct. 16-22). The OPL is like an open book - a place that the people of this city can become aware of the changing trends and times around the world and around the city. The Library provides a place where people of all cultures, beliefs, and lifestyles can find what they need to enrich their lives is the very underpinning of one of the OPL’s goals – building a literate and learning society. It is in the spirit of openness that the OPL is inviting people to become aware of the wealth of knowledge before them. For 100 years the Ottawa Public Library has provided an open book for the people of Ottawa, so become aware of the OPL, come turn our pages - learn of where we have been and help direct where we are going. For a complete listing of OPL programs and campaigns visit us at: www.BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca or pick up a copy of Preview, our quarterly magazine, available at all branches and the bookmobile. T NOVEMBER 2006 The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR Page OSCA PRESIDENT’S REPORT General Meeting, Traffic, Pedestrian Safety, and Farmer’s Market By Michael Jenkin OSCA’s Annual General Meeting O SCA will be holding its annual general meeting on Tuesday, November 7 at 7:30 pm at the Firehall. This is our annual accountability session to you our members. In addition to hearing reports on how we did this past year from our committee chairs and executive members, we will also be holding elections for the 2006-07 OSCA Board. This is a great opportunity for you to hear what has been accomplished over the past year, to ask questions and express your views on what you think we should be doing and where you think we should be going in the future. All those fully paid up members of the Association attending are also entitled to elect the new Board. Once our business is transacted we will host our traditional wine and cheese reception for members in order to allow you to meet the newly elected Board members and your neighbours. So please do turn up to the meeting, its your chance to check out what your community association is doing, and to make your views known. Glebe Traffic Plan Just as OSCAR went to press last month City Council again reconsidered the proposed temporary turn prohibitions for traffic turning onto the Queen Elizabeth Driveway going westbound during the morning rush hour. You will recall Council turned this down at its August meeting. The reconsideration and approval will make a considerable contribution to reducing cut through traffic in the Glebe from Bronson Avenue while not causing any serious side effects for us. Part of this initiative includes an impact study of a morning rush hour turn prohibition for northbound Bronson traffic turning onto Sunnyside Avenue. As you know Sunnyside is already heavily travelled in the morning. The results of that study will be used to assess the impact of the final element of the Glebe Traffic Plan that has yet to be implemented, namely preventing morning rush hour traffic from turning into the Glebe from Bronson. This proposal will be considered by Council in about two years time. We will keep you posted on developments. Pedestrian Safety on Colonel By Driveway OSWATCH has been concerned for some time about the increasingly unsafe situation facing pedestrians wanting to cross Colonel By Driveway in our neighbourhood. From the Echo Drive steps to the Bronson Bridge, the Driveway must be crossed by anyone who wants to use the Canal pathways to run, walk, ride their bikes or just enjoy the flowers. And of course in the wintertime this part of the Driveway is our main access point to get to the canal for skating. Over the past decade traffic volumes on the Driveway have been growing, especially during the rush hour as it is being used increasingly as a commuter route and with the NCC heavily promoting Winterlude, it is now very busy on winter weekends. And it is not just volumes and speed that are the problem. The section of the Driveway that crosses Old Ottawa South twists and turns and while this can be attractive it means that sight lines are short so that both pedestrians and cars often only see each other at the last minute. Despite this fact there are no designated pedestrian crossings, no crossing lights along the Driveway and no warning signs or reduced speed limits. At outgoing OSWATCH chair Leo Doyle’s urging, the Board agreed to approach the NCC to request the start of a dialogue with them on how to improve pedestrian safety on the Driveway and facilitate public access to the canal. Lansdowne Farmers’ Market As many of you may know a new farmers’ market has been operating at Lansdowne Park on Sundays since the beginning of the summer. It is scheduled to wind up on the last Sunday in October. This is part of a two year trial arrangement with the City to see if such a market would be viable. It is an interesting experiment as this is a genuine local market in that the produce that is on sale comes from local farms and market gardens and the intent is to help revitalize the local horticultural industry. Unfortunately, the Parkdale and By Ward markets are dominated now largely by vendors who buy in produce from southern Ontario and increasingly from the U.S. and overseas producers, largely to keep prices low and ensure the supply of products for sale outside of their local growing seasons. I was invited to attend a meeting in mid-October with the representatives of the Market and the Glebe Community Association to discuss the Market’s future. The major issue facing the Market is convincing the City that it merits a permanent place at Lansdowne Park and that in the coming year that it has a continuing access to the site. This is a particular problem as with Lansdowne hosting a massive international soccer tournament in July, and of course the Ex in August, means that the farmers’ Market is potentially going to loose a number of operating dates right at the time when local produce is reaching its peak production. The Board has agreed to write the Mayor and City Council now and in the spring expressing its support for the Market’s access to the site and urging the City to find it a permanent site at Lansdowne. You can do your part too by patronizing the Market when it starts up again next spring. You can get great tasting local produce and help farmers in the NCR to continue to grow produce here. The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR Page NOVEMBER 2006 Osca Meets With Mayoral Candidates On Firehall Redevelopment By Lisa Drouillard O ver the past month, OSCA Board and Firehall Redevelopment Committee members met with Mayor Bob Chiarelli and candidates Alex Munter and Larry O’Brien. What began as a long-awaited working session with the Mayor to secure commitments for investment in planning and design costs for the Firehall ultimately became a more productive census of the views and platforms of Ottawa’s mayoral candidates. Each meeting provided a window on the priorities and city vision of each of the candidates. They also gave us a sense of Ottawa South’s chances for seeing a commitment out of City Hall to invest in the Firehall, and the possible terms of that commitment. The meeting with Mayor Bob Chiarelli on September 28 confirmed our hopes and expectations that the Mayor, if re-elected would support the community’s efforts to move forward on the Firehall Redevelopment if reelected. At last spring’s Lobster Supper and at other junctures, Mayor Chiarelli had indicated that he supported the project. At this stage, that support comes in the form of an agreement to work towards ensuring that the design and planning costs for the Firehall Redevelopment will be included in next year’s draft budget. The Mayor was responsive to the presentation by board members and to the view that our project represented a fair and responsible investment in a facility would be green in both its design and interface with the community, and would support the City’s Smart Growth agenda. Mr.Chiarelli and his staff discussed possible options for securing the construction financing for the renovation further down the road, such as exploring the option of a community levy (an approach employed successfully by the Canterbury Recreation Complex). Consideration of these approaches lay much further out on the horizon, however. OSCA Board members left the meeting with the Mayor pleased with the commitment by the mayor to see $250,000 allocated in the draft city budget for next year for “soft costs” for the design of the Firehall, should the Mr. Chiarelli remain in office for another term. Our meeting with Alex Munter on October 12 was no less encouraging. A strong supporter of urban redevelopment, green city infrastructure, and family-centred community facilities, Mr. Munter was unequivocal in his support for an investment in a revitalized Firehall. Mr. Munter was attentive to our views on the need for pedestrian-friendly and smaller-scaled community facilities like ours. “You really don’t need to convince me” he responded, following the Committee’s presentation. Wasting no time discussing the obvious reasons why we should move forward with project, Mr. Munter’s focus was on exploring different models of funding and administration that might move the redevelopment project forward. The funding model employed by the Dovercourt Recreation Centre was viewed very favourably by this mayoral hopeful. It was suggested that by following the Dovercourt model, the job of securing the budget and support of city staff might be more straightforward while keeping the administration of the community centre responsive the needs of the neighbourhood. As this model would have major implications for the way the community centre and the OSCA board operate, such an approach would require careful consideration and consultation with the Board, staff, users and residents of OOS. Nonetheless, Mr. Munter’s response to the project was focused squarely on the how, when, and what impact various approaches to success might have on the Firehall’s future. Having some sense of candidate Larry O’Brien’s electoral platform, which is focused squarely on lowering taxes and reducing crime, it was anticipated that we might need to make a good case to see a commitment of support for the Firehall. It was interesting to learn that Mr. O’Brien grew up on Grove Avenue, and has a good sense of what a great place OOS is for families. However, Mr. O’Brien was firm in his position that he would not make easy campaign promises to support any new spending initiatives, but supported the community’s efforts and our vision for a vibrant community centre in our neighbourhood. His visit with our Board members was brief in light of a busy campaign schedule, but his team sat with us longer to discuss Larry’s background and vision for the city. The discussion was very candid and frank about Mr. O’Brien’s newness to city politics or city administration, and the about the tight focus of his campaign platform -- crime and taxes. OSCA members present raised concerns about how the tax cut agenda might favour newer communities that could rely on development fees for investment in infrastructure, where established neighbourhoods like OOS could not. As the October 2327 is Tax Week for the O’Brien team, we noted our hope that the possible differential impact of blunt measures to cut municipal taxes on investments in established neighbourhoods versus new developments would be discussed further. Mr. O’Brien and his team did seem to have their ears open to our arguments as to why infrastructure investments are both efficient and fair, but it seemed quite clear that many such arguments would need to be made in order to see commitments for support from O’Brien as Mayor. Mr. O’Brien and his team noted that the city’s figure of $250,000 for a detailed design proposal for the Firehall might be inflated by city staff, and that the work could possibly be done for less. Some kind of positive response was expected of all of the candidates in light of the strengths of the project and the search for community support during election time. But these meetings certainly gave OSCA board members a good idea of who would be willing to act on this initiative once elected, and whether or how they might want to go about making the renovation a reality in the near term. OSCA Update OSCA AGM - Tuesday, November 7, 2006 - 7:30 pm at the Firehall. Meet the members of the 2006/07 OSCA board, find out what the board and committees do in your community and stay for WIne and Cheese everyone welcome. Volunteers for Windsor Rink. Thanks to the 2 people who called to help, we will be calling you........ BUT how are we going to run the rink if we don’t have volunteers to do various jobs, which includes a large roster of people, each doing one evening this winter to flood the ice. We need many more people. Registration for OSCA Winter Programs begins Sunday, December 10. Watch for our brochure in December OSCAR. December Sleigh Ride - volunteers needed to help out on the night (TBA) - to do a craft, do the hot chocolate and cider, organize singing on the sleigh and generally make sure everyone has fun. February Winter Carnival - a few volunteers needed to sit on organizing committee and many volunteers for the day - a Sunday in February (TBA). So........if you would like to volunteer for any of the above or other events in OOS, please email OSCA@ oldottawasouth.ca or call Deirdre 613247-4872. Donating to OSCA’s charitable fund - you can get a tax receipt when you donate to OSCA’s charitable fund which will be used to expand/renovate the Firehall. The name of the fund is “Old Ottawa South Firehall Renovation Fund” and the charitable number is: 896669520RR0001. You can ask that your money be designated to this fund through the United Way campaign. NOVEMBER 2006 The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR Page Green Projects in Old Ottawa South By Mike Lascelles, ECOS Co-chair T he four green projects underway in Old Ottawa South are: the Linda Thom Park gateway project; tree planting and maintenance work at Windsor Park and beyond; restoring Brewer Pond; and greening the renovated Firehall. There are two other minor green projects at Brewer Park and on the western half of Sunnyside that will begin in 2007 if the Environment Committee of Ottawa South (ECOS) can line up some volunteer help. Linda Thom Park On October 18, 2006, Linda Thom, Ailsa Francis, Jean Kitchen, Pierre Paradis, Gary Lum, and I met with two planners - Kevin Harper and Don Loucks of the IBI Group – to identify what features to include in a concept plan for the first phase of the Linda Thom Park gateway project in 2007. Linda and the others agreed that the concept plan could involve using hardy and sustainable landscape material and salt-tolerant plants in the two park areas next to Bank Street, replacing some invasive Manitoba maple on the eastern side near the hydro station, planting a few evergreens to succeed the dying trees on the west side of the park, improving park lighting for safety, and sprucing up the riparian zone – particularly on the west side of Bank Street. Don Loucks hopes to develop the concept plan that can be shared with the community at the OSCA AGM on November 7, 2006. After that, we intend to apply for funds under the City of Ottawa’s Green Partnership program. For more information about this partnership program, go online to http://ottawa. ca/city_services/environment/city/ programs/green/index_en.html . Windsor Park On October 14, 2006, Gary Lum, Linda Thom, and Peter Wells led a group of more than 30 Old Ottawa South Parks Renewal Committee (OOSPRC) volunteers who helped the City of Ottawa’s Doug Flowers trim trees at Linda Thom and Windsor Parks and further east to Main Street. The group also planted a small number of trees donated by Mr. Albert Dugal. For more information on this group’s fine work and future plans, please see Gary Lum’s report in this issue of OSCAR. Restoring Brewer Pond In early October 2006, Hedrik Wachelka of Muskies Canada, Scott Smithers of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Heather Hamilton of the Canadian Biodiversity Institute, and I met with Carleton University’s Drs. Fred Michel (hydrogeologist and Director, Environmental Science Institute) and Steven Cooke (fish ecologist and conservation physiologist, Assistant Professor, Department of Biology) to identify the next steps in restoring Brewer Pond. Heather Hamilton also led a group discussion on the possibility of a biodiversity centre and environmental programs for children at Brewer Park in a few years’ time. It was agreed that Heather’s biodiversity centre was very promising in the medium term. It was decided that the immediate next step would be for Dr. Cooke to take stock of what kind and quantity of fish are in the pond. After that, Hedrik, Steven, and Scott will develop a detailed plan to restore Brewer Pond in the next few years. If things go as intended, residents of Old Ottawa South will have an opportunity to comment on the plan in early 2007. Firehall Renovation Over the past few months, OSCA’s Firehall Renovation Committee, led by Michael Jenkin, David Law, Lisa Drouillard, and Ken Slemko – with help from Councillor Doucet, has secured the support of City politicians and senior staff to try to fund the development of detailed plans in 2007 for the renovated Firehall. ECOS hopes that the detailed plans will confirm that the City is truly dedicated to making the renovated Firehall a LEEDS-certified green building that reflects our community’s strong environmental values, offers major energy cost savings, and provides an environmentally healthy community centre. ECOS Needs You ECOS needs some extra help in 2007 to undertake two minor projects: repair the Scout footbridge at Brewer Park and develop a plan to green Sunnyside Avenue west of Bank Street. OSCA (ECOS) has already allocated the money required to do this work; what is lacking are a few community activists to make these two projects happen. If you think you can spare the time to pitch in, please contact ECOS c/o the Firehall. Page The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR NOVEMBER 2006 Green Priorities for a New Council By Patrick Quealey No eye could be too sound To observe a world so vast, No patience too profound To sort what’s here amass’d; How man may here best live no care too great to explore. -- Matthew Arnold W e are now deep into the 2006 Ottawa municipal election campaign. In order to work most effectively with the new Council that will be elected on November 13th, the City of Ottawa’s Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) has developed a set of environmental priorities we believe will help Ottawa move most effectively towards sustainability. The EAC believes that the City of Ottawa has a key responsibility to develop and implement policies, and programs that address pressing environmental issues. The municipal level of governments is the most accountable, and best positioned, to work directly with its residents and businesses to address environmental concerns. The best example of this is that Ottawa has made a commitment to protect and enhance the environment, using sustainable development through its 20/20 vision and accompanying Environmental Strategy. Under the new Council that will be elected on November 13th, Ottawa must continue to “lead by example”. The EAC believes that the priorities laid out below will provide guidance to that new Council in how to effectively address environmental issues and ultimately make Ottawa vastly more sustainable City. The EAC believes Ottawa can become a true leader, both nationally and globally, on environmental issues, and over the long term, become Canada’s most sustainable City. This will ensure our City’s economic prosperity as well as the integrity of our quality of life. The EAC’s believes the following priorities provide the necessary guidance to effectively address the environmental issues facing our community. • Climate Change – The new Council should fulfill and fully implement the City’s Air Quality and Climate Change Management Plan. The Plan mandates the reduction of greenhouse gases by 20% by 2007 for City emissions, and 2012 for overall community emissions. Further the city must continue to address climate change over the longer term as a municipality of a country that ratified both the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol. • Air Quality/Health –The new Council should establish air quality monitoring stations across the city to measure the level of air pollution. Further the City should set local targets of reducing air pollution to levels that meet and exceed national and provincial standards. • Energy – The new Council should develop a municipal energy and electricity consumption plan that focuses on energy conservation, clean energy alternatives and energy efficiency. In so doing the City should continue to Partner with its Envirocentre. • Waste Reduction – The new Council should fully implement the rethink garbage program and implement “user-friendly” recycling and composting programs. This should be reflected in an updated Integrated Waste Management Plan. • Urban Design – The new Council should fulfill the mandate of the City’s green buildings policy to ensure that all City buildings constructed or leased offer improved environmental health and energy performance over the status quo. Further, that the approval of development applications and uses of land for public transportation, both in the rural and urban areas, must ensure the protection of green spaces, wetlands and other vulnerable lands. • Water – The new Council should maintain and enhance City policies and programs that ensure the quality and quantity of drinkable water within rural and urban areas. The City should also take steps to improve the quality of recreational water. Such initiatives need to take a watershed approach to land development. • Wetlands – The new Council should implement a citywide program to identify, protect and enhance all existing wetlands. A wetland monitoring system should be implemented with an annual report to Council. The City should sign the UNEP Urban Environment Accords. Signing theAccords will indicate a commitment to address the environmental priorities listed above and allow Ottawa to join other signatory cities in a global community of committed Cities. The Accords are non-binding but provide guidance on how to address environmental issues at the municipal level from a global perspective. These priorities aim to reinforce the City’s existing plans and programmes while providing a clear vision for the future. We are looking for strong leadership and an unequivocal commitment by the new Council to address these issues. As the Municipal election looms, the EAC looks forward to working with the new Council to deliver on these priorities. Map of New Turn Restrictions in the Glebe NOVEMBER 2006 The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR Page A Puff of Air Saves You Money by stephen a. haines O ld Ottawa South is typified by classical homes built many years ago. People move here for many reasons, but the avoidance of suburban “ticky-tacky” homes is one of them. The price paid for our attractive residences is the older standard of energy efficiency. Simply put, our homes “leak” heat. There are several reasons to upgrade the energy efficiency of your home or business. Saving on-going operating expence is one, resale value another. The environmental reason might also rate high on your priority list. Whatever prompts you, once you’ve made the decision, the first step is learning what must be done to improve energy use. That’s where the EnviroCentre steps in to help. Founded in 1998 as a non-profit organisation, EnviroCentre provides efficiency assessment services to indicate where work is needed. Air movement, both entering and exiting your house or condiminium, can be determined using a “blower door” testing method. For those in apartments, incoming smoke or cooking odours can be tracked and dealt with. With three levels of testing procedure, including “walk-through” assessments and even “computer modelling” of your residence , the information gleaned can achieve a high level of detail. Recommendations are provided in a report advising steps to be taken to improve both efficiency and air quality. The Hopkins family on Aylmer Avenue tried EnviroCentre’s programme four years ago, and have enjoyed substantial savings since the renovations were completed. “We went from an efficiency level of the low 30s on their scale to the mid-60s when the assessor came by after the changes”, they say. Dana Silk, founder of the service, brings three decades of experience to the job. He reminds us that assessment goes beyond simple questions of heat loss or odour transfer. “People are generally unaware of the flow of air through a house. As well as heat leaking out, air coming in brings various contaminants. These are often particles which are deposited on furniture, walls and, most importantly, in the lungs of the occupants. They’re not easily detected and sometimes have cumulative impact.” With the heavy New Turn Restrictions in the Glebe By James Hunter O ld Ottawa South residents need to re-plan their routes and be on the watch for new turn restriction signs. City Council’s meeting on September 27th voted on and passed Recommendation 2 of Item 3, Transportation Committee Report 38 relating to turns in the Glebe onto Queen Elizabeth Driveway. The recommendation is as follows: • Allow right turns from northbound Bronson Avenue on all Glebe streets (status quo) but during the morning peak rush hour (7 a.m. to 9 a.m., Monday to Friday) only, implement the following restrictions (Note that bicycles and emergency vehicles will be exempted from turn prohibitions.): • Prohibit right-hand turns from Torrington Place onto Queen Elizabeth Driveway during the morning peak • Prohibit right-hand turns from Broadway Avenue onto Queen Elizabeth Driveway during the morning peak. • Prohibit left-hand turns on the accessway on the Queen Elizabeth Driveway half way between Torrington and Broadway to prevent U-turns during the morning peak. • Prohibit left turns from Northbound Bronson Avenue onto Madawaska Drive during the morning peak (as approved in the original Glebe Traffic Plan.) • Revise the signage at the Bronson Avenue / Findlay Avenue intersection to indicate the times that turns are restricted. The above would be implemented as soon as possible after Council approval. The turn restrictions are illustrated on Exhibit 1. Further information can be found at the City of Ottawa Website. traffic levels we endure on OOS streets, this is likely a greater hidden hazard today than it was only a few years ago. EnviroCentre’s non-profit status enhances its credibility with clients. In addition to a range of energy and airflow assessment services, there are products to select from, as well. The organisation hosts an “Energy Boutique” with such energy-saving devices as hot-water heater blankets, “Ultra-quiet” bathroom fans and light bulbs. “Helpful Hint” brochures such as “Ready for a PowerPlay” provide common sense reminders about how to save electrical energy in your home. At today’s rates, every step you take will put pennies in your pocket. For those dedicated to health issues beyond air quality, there are pedometres to calculate your daily walking distance. Try one when you’re tripping up to the Sunnyside Library to return or pick up books - or try out the KillAWatt energy use monitor. Dog walkers will find these devices encouraging on those daily trips along the Canal or Rideau River. You may be clocking up the ten thousand steps recommended by the Canadian Diabetes Association! Area businesses also can benefit from EnviroCentre’s programmes. Descriptions of HydroOttawa’s “Smart Business Ottawa” programmes for energy savings are available at EnviroCentre’s City Hall facility. Homeowners in OOS have already discovered the EnviroCentre, and many more should find the service useful. Earlier this year, Nick Previsich of Willard Avenue called on the agency to assess a house built in 1931. Already contemplating a “serious basement renovation”, Nick asked EnviroCentre to suggest energy efficiency steps to incorporate in the upgrade. He found the service excellent and is looking forward to the savings the changes should provide in the future. Your household would likely benefit as well. Drop in at the EnviroCentre at their City Hall location, or check out the website: http://www.envirocentre. ca. The phone number is 613 580 2582 or FAX 613 580 2494. Page 10 The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR NOVEMBER 2006 Glebe Luncheon Club Provides Wheels to Meals By Julie Ireton T he luncheon club at Abbotsford House is looking for new recruits and 92-year-old Roberta Brown says she’s not opposed to a few men joining up. “It’s gotten smaller over the years, so we’re looking for new members,” says Brown. Right now, the club is mainly made up of women, most of them widows. The ages range from 93 to 73-years-old. The club provides an outing for Ottawa seniors twice a week. It’s especially beneficial to those who don’t have many family members around. Roberta Brown says she’s been lunching with the ladies for about 14 Staff and Volunteers from Abbotsford House and the Ladies from the May Court Club years. She notes she’s met some good friends along the way. “You get out to see a lot of friends. It’s nice to get out of the house. I really enjoy the company.” Every Tuesday and Friday, the Glebe Centre van picks up each luncheon club member and heads to the grocery store, bingo hall, shopping mall, casino or movie theatre. And of course, the trip also includes a meal out. There’s room for about 14 people in the bus. Most days there are between six and a dozen members taking part. Elizabeth Parcher is with Abbotsford house. She says helping these women get out of the house and socialize as a group really lifts their spirits, especially in the winter months when they just don’t get out very often. “For some people, it’s difficult to get to Abbotsford, this club keeps members connected to the community”, says Parcher. “Some find apartment living surprisingly isolated. This helps them associate with people they wouldn’t normally associate with.” And Roberta Brown says she appreciates the attention from the volunteers who help out club members on the outings. “I’m visually impaired, so when we go shopping, someone stays with me to help out while I find the things I really need.” About three volunteers accompany the members on each trip. Some of the women are a bit frail, but none have any cognitive disabilities. “The club adds quality of life for a small number of people. It makes a difference in people’s lives,” notes Parcher. This past spring, the May Court Club gave Abbottsford a $14,000 grant to support the Luncheon Club. The May Court is a women’s philanthropic organization in Old Ottawa South. It fundraises to assist a variety of programs. The grant money goes towards the cost of the program, as well as maintenance and gas for the van. There’s also a fee of $7 per member for each outing. For more information, or to join the club, get in touch with Elizabeth Parcher at Abbotsford House at 613230-5730. NOTES FROM THE GARDEN CLUB Awards for the Front-Yard Garden Contest and Creating a Winter Garden By Colin Ashford T he members of the Old Ottawa South Garden Club enjoyed a double bill at their October meeting: the presentation of the awards for the front-yard garden contest and a talk, illustrated with slides, by Janice Ife on winter gardens. This is the second year that the Garden Club has mounted its front-yard garden contest: friends and neighbours nominate local gardens and, over the summer, a distinguished panel of judges awards three gardens the title of “Garden of Distinction”. This year the gardens belonging to Lyn Brodsky, Susan Phelan, and Fred Woolfrey were awarded the title; the awards were made by Michael Jenkins, President of the OSCA. Michael noted, as a confirmed brown thumb, that he was in awe of gardeners who turned the impossible into the sublime and that the number and quality of the gardens in our neighbourhood reflected the level of engagement and caring in the community. Award-winning garden-design consultant and lecturer at Algonquin College, Janice Ife, offered her audience hope as the dreariness of November approaches. She noted the challenges of the Ottawa climate to gardeners: the two weeks of spring and a riot of flowering; the heat and drought of the summer; a small respite in September; and then into the grey of November before the winter snows. Remarking how much better native plants (and there are around 2600 in Ontario) survive our climate, she went on to identify a number of plant elements that add interest to the garden in winter. Evergreens are an obvious choice (not forgetting that evergreens can come in blues and yellows) and so are ornamental grasses; vines and trees without their leaves can provide interesting shapes in winter especially where they accentuate light and shade; herbs often last late into the fall providing both colour and shape. She also recommended non-plant choices: attractive pots, weathered lawn furniture, ornaments, brightly-painted structures, and, of course, wild birds all add interest to the winter garden. Janice distributed a number of useful handouts on landscaping, choice of plants, and native perennials; she also distributed a copy of her periodic email on contemporary garden tips. (Readers are invited to subscribe to Janice’s email tips by sending her an email at ife@magma.ca) The next meeting of the Garden Club will be on Monday 20 November 2006 at the Old Firehall on Sunnyside at 7.00 p.m. when David Chernushenko, a local “green” resident, will give a talk entitled “So Many Ways to Green Your Garden”. David will talk about the many ways to cultivate a “green” garden: xeriscaping, rooftop gardens, eliminating heat islands, rainbarrels, composting, and cutting chemical inputs of all sorts. Drop-in membership for the evening is $5 and new members are always welcome. From left to right: Susan Phelan, Fred Woolfrey, and Lyn Brodsky were awarded “Gardens of Distinction” from OSCA President, ichael Jenkins” NOVEMBER 2006 The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR Page 11 Tennis for United Way By John Callan A group of 14 real estate Sales Representatives at Coldwell Banker Rhodes & Company organized a fundraiser for this year’s United Way campaign at the Ottawa Tennis and Lawn Bowling Club on Oct. 2nd, 2006. After a rainy weekend, the sun came out that Monday afternoon as we all anxiously waited for the call from Camille Lewis, the General Manager to give us the OK--the courts had dried off! We played a round robin for 3 hours and were able to raise, through sponsorships, over $4,000 for the United Way. As usual, the offer of a donated prize brought out the competitive edge and participants vied for the honour of the highest number of sponsorships - as well as for the prize for the winning players. What a terrific venue for a fundraiser as this venerable club, with its excellent facilities, has just celebrated a rich history of 125 years in this community. It was also fitting for our office to be in Old Ottawa South for a fundraiser as we have, for the last 2 years, been a proud supporter and a friend of The Hospice at May Court . Coldwell Banker Rhodes has a past of charitable giving by creating events that are innovative and fun for the participants. This event would not have been possible without the help of Camille and the Tennis Club, who were most gracious in allowing us the use of their courts and food/ beverage facilities. We gratefully acknowledge their generosity as well as that of the prize donors, Elaine Beaudry, Gary Greenwood and Papagus Greek Taverna. Front row: “Junior tennis hopefuls”-Angela and Harry Jay. Left to right: Margaret Carver, Ian Brown, Kay Leslie-Carlo, Chris Rhodes, Sharon Lalonde, John Callan, Annalee Jay, Chad Clost, Elaine Beaudry, Janet Dodds, David MacDonald and Gary Greenwood. Missing: Patrick O’Keefe, Lincoln Jay, Bob Daley and Robert Pugh. The Ottawa Folklore Centre Proudly Celebrates Its 30th Anniversary With a Potluck Dinner T he Ottawa Folklore Centre Proudly Celebrates Its 30th Anniversary With A Potluck Dinner / Concert Featuring Sneezy Waters, Zeke Mazurek, Vince Halfhide, Ken Kanwisher, Corky Kealey and Ted Gerow To Appear At The “Long Lost French Café” (the former Bayou) at 1071 Bank on Saturday November 4th 2006 The Ottawa Folklore Centre is delighted to celebrate its 30th anniversary with a potluck dinner and concert led by Sneezy Waters and his excellent band including Zeke Mazurek, Vince Halfhide, Ken Kanwisher, Corky Kealey, Ted Gerow and other guests. The event will be held on Saturday November 4th 2006 at “The Long Lost French Café” (the former Bayou) at 1071 Bank St (Bank at Sunnyside) in celebration of the OFC’s 30th anniversary. Admission is 10$ in advance. Bring a salad, carbohydrate or dessert to the show and admission is FREE. Tickets are essential and are available at the Ottawa Folklore Centre. Doors and Dinner are at 6:00 PM. The Ottawa Folklore Centre is celebrating 30 years of community and integration into the fabric of the Ottawa Folk Community. Some know it only as a retail store - the main floor presents quality folk instruments, CD’s hand chosen by the illustrious Chopper McKinnon, strings, reeds, chanters, etc. but most know it as a part of the community. Community has always been a major part of the OFC experience and over the years the heart of the Centre has been exposed in a long line of workshops, fundraisers, concerts, open stages and major projects such as the Canadian Folk Walk of Fame. On a three block stretch of Bank Street in Ottawa, bronze maple leafs are set into the sidewalk and display the names of legendary folk music heroes Stan Rogers, Helen Creighton, Joni Mitchell, Bruce Cockburn, Gordon Lightfoot and Jean Carignan. Soon, new colourful kiosks and wall murals will enliven the area between the canal and the river. Already a decadent mural at the corner of Sunnyside & Bank Streets shows images of Cockburn, Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell and Sylvia Tyson. Sneezy Waters will be leading the house band and there will be opportunity for special guests to grace the stage. Sneezy began his professional career in the 1960’s, and since that time he’s toured extensively in Canada (including several Arctic communities) Japan, Hong Kong, Laos, Thailand, India, Denmark, Germany, Holland, and the United States. From 1977 to 1990, he starred as Hank Williams in the runaway hit “Hank Williams: The Show He Never Gave”. He has since released two albums, (You’ve Got) Sawdust on the Floor of Your Heart and Sneezy Waters Sings Hank Williams. Sneezy boasts a vast repertoire and an unerring ability to interpret a song. The remarkable backing band features Zeke Mazurek, Vince Halfhide, Ken Kanwisher, Corky Kealey and Ted Gerow. These songwriters, musicians and lyricists will lavish listeners with a wealth of musical styles, concise and deceptively understated lyrical insight, devastating wit and worldclass instrumental prowess. As the OFC continues to grow and expand into its 31st year, (we are now expanding OFC Publishing and offer customers access to our digital in-house demo recording studio) we hope to celebrate the little store begun so long ago by Arthur McGregor and Terry Penner. Support the Ottawa Folklore Centre, Sneezy and the gang as we continue to beat the tribal drum that makes Ottawa a proud Folk Town. Page 12 The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR NOVEMBER 2006 Southminster Happenings By Craig Piche S outhminster United Church will be hosting its annual Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, November 25 from 9:30am to 1:30pm. The church, located at the corner of Bank Street and Aylmer Avenue across from the Sunnyside library branch, will also be offering a coffee and team room beginning at 11:30am. The bazaar features many tables designed to please the palette including homemade baking, jams, jellies and preserves. There will also be Christmas decorations, a knitting and sewing table, crafts and plants. Bargain hunters will also be drawn to the silent auction items, used and antique books and the jewelry and collectibles table. For the kids, there is a section just for them plus the always-popular Cake Walk. Bazaar convener Marsha Lett says “there will be something for everyone. It’s a tradition at Southminster and a perfect start to the Christmas season.” Jazz in Sacred Spaces: Concert and CD release event Residents of Old Ottawa South can judge the classic jazz of Peter Woods and Brian Browne as they perform at Southminster United Church at the CD release of their new disc “Testimony”. The intimate evening of music takes place November 18th beginning at 7:30pm. various musical groups throughout the region, frequently as part of jazz duos in restaurant and club settings. His recordings “Sanctuary” and “Coming Home” have been well-received Brian Browne and Peter Woods Peter Woods (saxophone) is a Smiths Falls-based musician and member of the Brockville Musicians Association. He appears regularly in on CBC Radio 2 and are available across Canada. Mr. Woods is also a minister in the United Church of Canada, working in the Smiths Falls community. He has performed before at Southminster along side Peter Dent. Brian Browne has a reputation as one of the true Canadian jazz legends. His latest disc, “Blue Browne”, has been called one of the best piano jazz releases of the last five years. He has seven previously released recordings. Originally from Montreal, Mr. Browne moved as a teenager to Ottawa, where his musical career soon began. He studied at the Berklee School of Music and later won a scholarship to study with Oscar Peterson in Toronto. Mr. Browne has performed for decades as one of the pre-eminent voices in jazz piano, working with all the luminaries of the Canadian scene over the past 30 years. The musicians promise an evening dedicated to the classic melodies of jazz with their own interpretations of tunes from George Gershwin, Cole Porter and many more. From Duke Ellington’s “Satin Doll” to Hoagy Carmichael’s “Georgia” it will be an evening of swinging sounds and bluesy choruses. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and can be bought at the church office (613.730.6874) or at the door. Southminster is located at 15 Aylmer Avenue at Bank Street across from the Sunnyside library. Southminster Lecture Series Concludes By Frances Chambers S outhminster’s lecture series on “Challenges of Ministry in our Time” concludes on Sunday, November 5th, with the Rev. Andrew Johnston, minister of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Ottawa, speaking on the topic Back to the Beginning: The Congregation as a Sabbath Community. He will focus on the Sabbath as an invitation of scripture and as a witness of generations past with certain contemporary reflections. He will show that the Sabbath is both personal and corporate, and a matter of the spirit that can shape society. “Sabbath is where renewal awaits our congregations for Christian ministry today.” Rev. Johnston is well known for his pursuit of ecumenical initiatives both locally, such as Daybreak housing and the Christian Council of the Capital Area, as well as nationally where he is active in the Presbyterian World Service and Development. He has a keen interest in the connections between contemporary culture and the Christian faith and has served on Ecumenical Juries at the film festivals of Berlin, Cannes, Locarno and Montreal. Raised in Ottawa, Lagos and Hamilton, Rev. Johnston studied at the Universities of Toronto, Edinburgh and McGill as well as the Presbyterian College Montreal. He is the thirteenth minister of St. Andrew’s Church, Ottawa, as it celebrates 178 years of Christian witness at the corner of Wellington and Kent Streets. The lecture series is part of a number of activities leading up to Southminster’s 75th anniversary celebrations that take place next year. The lecture will take place at 7:30 pm in the Parlour at Southminster, corner of Bank and Aylmer Avenue by way of the Galt Street entrance. All are welcome. There will be a free will offering. For further information call Southminster’s office at 613730-6874. Blue Box History T he “Blue Box” program originated in Kitchener, Ontario in 1981. The first multi-material recycling program, Project One Recycling, was organized at the grassroots level by Jack McGinnis, who single handedly picked up glass, cans and newspapers at 80,000 households weekly in Toronto’s east end. After speaking about his company’s efforts in recycling at Garbage Fest ’77, Nyle Ludolph from Laidlaw Waste Systems (then called Superior Sanitation) demonstrated his personal waste diversion habits by putting out on the curb a total of only six garbage bags over the span of an entire year. The first “Blue Boxes” were corrugated plastic sheets, handfolded and stenciled with the words “WE RECYCLE.” The dark blue colour was chosen because it could stand up against ultraviolet light, which could break down the plastic over time. Mississauga, Ontario was the second city to initiate a curbside “Blue Box” program. By 1999, 94 per cent of households in the province had access to recycling services. The innovative recycling program has since become an international phenomenon, adopted by cities around the world. NOVEMBER 2006 The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR Page 13 Saint Margaret Mary’s Bazaar Raise Funds for “Out of the Cold” By Louise Rickenbacker F or the past eight years, volunteers from Saint Margaret Mary’s, at Sunnyside and Fairbairn in Old Ottawa South, have worked with volunteers from other local parishes to bring people from our community “out of the cold”. On the surface this means serving guests three-course meals every Sunday evening in the warmth of a church hall, October to April. For some of the guests, this may be the one hot meal of their week and meets their primary need. For others, the meal means an opportunity to socialize and enjoy some companionship. The purpose of “Out of the Cold” is to give people an opportunity to enjoy a warm meal in the company of friends. And that’s what has happened. After operating the dinners for several years, some of the volunteers and guests have gotten to know each other and enjoy sharing the events of the week. Some guests are good pianists. For these individuals, access to a piano is a marvelous outlet and for everyone else, an enriched atmosphere they rarely have the chance to enjoy. At Saint Margaret Mary’s about 60 volunteers are divided into four teams, each team taking responsibility for one Sunday a month. This involves buying, preparing and serving the meal, and socializing with the guests. When Saint Margaret Mary’s started offering the “Out of the Cold” suppers eight years ago, about 20 to 30 guests arrived each Sunday. Now each week the Volunteers from St. Margaret Mary’s “Out of the Cold” suppers serve up to 100 guests each Sunday from mid-October to mid-April. Team 4 volunteers are Margot Laliberté, Louise Rickenbacker, Brian Tansey, Anne Bachinski, Randy Thurm, Kelly Beaton and Peter de Gosztonyi church welcomes between 80 and 100 guests! The “Out of the Cold” suppers are a community effort. Dinner guests thank the parishes and volunteers from not only Saint Margaret Mary’s, but also Southminister United, St. Matthews Anglican, Trinity Anglican, Sunnyside Wesleyan and Wesley United churches. Recognition and thanks also go to the many local businesses who donate gifts and other forms of support. Bazaar proceeds support “Out of the Cold” Suppers The annual Christmas Bazaar held at Saint Margaret Mary’s – this year on Sunday, December 3 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. - helps support this project. All proceeds go to the “Out of the Cold” suppers. As we did last year, the Bazaar has been expanded to include the Old Firehall, immediately across the road from the Church. Using talents honed through hosting the suppers, parishioners and supporters from the community prepare frozen dinners and frozen apple pies to sell at the bazaar. Prepared in advance are Chicken Cacciatore, Pork Schnitzel and Organic Vegetarian Chili, as well as frozen, uncooked apple pies ready to pop in the oven during the busy days before Christmas. The Bazaar also features baked goods and preserves, unique hostess gifts and stocking stuffers, raffles – for a 25-pound Turkey compliments of the Glebe Meat Market – as well as other prizes. A balloon purchased at the Bazaar when burst will win a prize from a local Bank Street Merchant of equal or greater value. Children – and pets – are not forgotten. The children will be welcomed to supervised craft activities while their parents shop, and pets can be pampered with special treats for sale at the Bazaar. A Gold, Silver and Collectibles table will feature an array of lovely objects. If you have an item you would like to donate, drop by the Church on Saturday, December 2 between 1 and 4 p.m. or call us and we would be delighted to accept your contribution to the Sunday Supper program. Community merchants strong supporters Local merchants have been generous in their support of the Bazaar. Businesses up and down Bank Street South as well as into the Glebe and Alta Vista have supported the project with donations of gift certificates and prizes. A complete list of the donors will be published in next month’s paper. Join us at the Bazaar on Sunday, December 3, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enjoy lunch at “Marcel’s Café” – home-made minestrone soup, Hungarian goulash and pizza. Best of all, warm your heart by getting a head start on the holiday season and by knowing you’ve lived the spirit of Christmas by helping to support the “Out of the Cold” Sunday Suppers. Page 14 The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR NOVEMBER 2006 Garden Glimpses Be Kind to Your Tender Tropicals – It’s Called Benign Neglect! By Ailsa Francis Hortus Urbanus J ust about now gardeners like us start hyperventilating. Summer may actually be over. Leaves are rapidly dropping from the trees, there is a morning chill in the air and pretty soon the grass will start crunching underfoot. Of course, winter is just around the corner and if you haven’t brought your tender houseplants in for the season by now, you may have lost them! The coldest overnight temperatures have already hovered around the freezing point (as I write this in late October) and most tropical plants cannot withstand these conditions. By all means, if they’re still alive, bring them indoors to a cool, bright place, water them (this will help them thaw if need be) and wait. When faced with such an extreme change in conditions (lower light levels, warmer temperatures, still air and decreased humidity), plants almost invariably react by dropping leaves, flowers, buds and losing their healthy colour. I will guarantee you that your bougainvillea will do all of the above. But don’t panic. Increased watering, heavy fertilizing, re-potting and steppedup tender loving care are all the worst things you can do right now. Does this surprise you? Classic mistakes like these are so common. Your tropical plants are entering into what is called their “dormant period.” This does not mean that all their above-ground growth dies off, only to re-sprout in the spring like your hardy perennials. But their growth rate does slow down considerably, flowering usually stops and as a result, their care must also change. When asked how often to water an indoor plant (once a week? every 10 days?) I always answer that you must feel the soil. Poke your finger down to at least the first knuckle and if it feels dry, then it is time to water. And water thoroughly. The best way to make sure that you are doing this is by watering from below – when you have watered sufficiently, the surface of the soil will be moist. Place your pot into the sink or a tub with lukewarm water and let it drink for as long as this takes. You’ll find that your plants drink less water in the winter months than during the heat of the summer, and certainly less water when the winter sun refuses to shine. More plants are killed during the winter by over-watering than under. The only fertilizer you should be giving your plants during the winter is one very low in nutrients, like a fish emulsion, manure tea, or my favourite, a concentrate made from seaweed (i.e. Mr Kelpman). I do like to use this at half its recommended rate during the winter months just to help plants stay strong and keep their healthy colour. Using a product like 20-20-20, Miracle Gro or those terrible green fertilizer spikes (all comparable to steroids) is something I discourage for houseplants during all seasons. Organic (with their resulting low nutrient ratio) really is a more natural and appropriate feed. Since your plants are slowing down for the winter, re-potting at this stage is not recommended. That is, unless your plant is 6 feet tall and in a pot that measures 8” across. This is a horticultural tragedy. You should be ashamed of yourself! Repot it quickly or else it may fall over and injure small animals or heirloom china. If this is you, get some good quality potting soil for tropical plants, a pot that measures no more than about 2” more in diameter (with a drainage hole) and tease the roots before planting to stimulate them. Water before you transplant and afterwards as well. And firm the soil down well around the perimeter of the pot so that it doesn’t absorb all the moisture at the expense of the root ball. In future, re-pot in the early spring! Lastly, don’t fuss over your plants by moving them here and there, or treat them like figurines or decorative objects that would really look best at the top of a bookcase, in a dark stairwell or next to the fireplace. Find out where that particular plant will grow best and place it there. Rotate it so that all sides get equal amounts of light and under no circumstances place it near a hot air source. This always spells d-i-s-a-s-t-e-r. And spidermites. Good luck and happy indoor gardening! Forty Foot Puddle No More Forty Foot Puddle No More: Crews were out on Belmont Avenue on October 5 adding a new sewer intake to relieve water pooling problems that arose after a new water main was installed on the street last year. Photo by Missy Fraser NOVEMBER 2006 The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR Page 15 BOOK REVIEW Muddying the Stream of Time By stephen a. haines Time Meddlers by Deborah Jackson LBF Books, 2006 ISBN 09773082-8-6 I t’s a snowy day in Ottawa’s eastern suburbs. Having once again clashed with her father over leaving Toronto for “the wilderness” of the national capital, Sarah Sachs in no mood for snow. She’s is in no mood for foolish surprises, either. Swirling flakes fail to hide the shock of her life - an SUV passes through a boy walking across the street toward her. This bizarre incident is but the beginning of a sequence of unexpected events. The boy, who proves rude and distant, is Sarah’s neighbour and classmate. As “loners”, they almost inevitably form a loose alliance. That connection will lead to an amazing adventure. Deborah Jackson’s last book, “The Ice Tomb” [reviewed in the September, 2004 OSCAR], combined history, science and some well-drawn characters in a captivating story. Those characters, however, were all adults. Here, she follows a similar strategy, but for a younger audience. Sarah and Matt Barnes might be your youngster’s classmates. Jackson captures their feelings about school, parents and the world around them with skilled perception. Sarah’s folks have divorced, jolting the twelveyear-old’s comfortable life. Matt’s lost both of his, his father in an inexplicable way. He’s disappeared in time. In pursuit of his father, Matt must deal with his cousin Nadine, who’s running the house, the experiment Dr Barnes designed, and Matt’s life. Fiercely protective of Dr Barnes’ work, she proves the obstacle Matt and Sarah must dodge in their quest. In their efforts, the two children override caution, with unpredictable results. Nathan Barnes, an eminent physicist, had developed a machine to cross time and space. Jackson here adapts current thinking among physicists that there are multiple universes, possibly accessed by tapping something called “quantum foam”. Within this foam space and time are indeterminate. You can go anywhere or anywhen. Thrust into the foam, Matt and Sarah are transported elsewhen. As city children, they must learn to cope with an entirely novel environment - and its inhabitants. How they survive and what results from their transportation makes gripping reading. They must prove flexible and innovative. Matt’s relation to his father is the pivot point for the story’s development, which Jackson handles with consummate skill. Science fiction has long held a fascination for young, inquisitive minds. What are the alternative possibilities to everyday life? Is the course of history locked in some pattern or can individuals truly have an impact on how events transpire? Jackson poses these questions admirably, showing how the young can act on their own initiative and Area Church Service Times Sunnyside Wesleyan Church St. Margaret Mary’s Parish 58 Grosvenor Avenue (at Sunnyside) Sunday Worship Services are at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. Children’s programs are offered during both services. Trinity Anglican Church 1230 Bank Street (corner of Cameron) Sunday services at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Church School and Nursery at 10 a.m. 7 Fairbairn Sunday liturgies: Saturday at 4:30 p.m.; Sunday at 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Evening Prayer: Tuesday at 7 p.m. Southminster United Church 15 Aylmer Avenue 10:30 a.m.: Worship and Sunday School - September through June Deborah Jackson maintain a set of effective values. These two clash with adults, with each other and with their peers. But they also learn reconciliation and cooperation between themselves and a larger community. They understand how today’s actions lead to tomorrow’s results, and selfish behaviour can be carried only so far. This book is valuable for many reasons and an excellent “stocking stuffer” for any young person. Adults should find it of more than passing interest. stephen a. haines may be reached at bigbunyip@sympatico.ca Page 16 The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR Clearing the Fog of War: Great Reads at Sunnyside Library A HARD DAY’S PLAY Elmo and Spiders By Chris Simmons, Librarian By Mary P. W M alli lies on the living room floor, wailing. “Mine! Mine! My Elmo!” “Elmo’s in the garbage, honey.” “My Elmo! Malli take Elmo home!” “Oh, lovie. Elmo’s all dirty now. You don’t want to take that yukky thing home, do you?” Stupid question. “Elmo! Malli take Elmo hoooome!” I guess I’d been a little hasty when I threw the thing out. I suppose there’s no harm in it. I fish it out, dust it off, put it in a plastic grocery bag. “Here, Malli. You want to take Elmo home, you can take Elmo home.” A few moments later, Malli’s mother peers in the bag at the sodden package enclosed there, clicks her tongue and sighs. “It’s Elmo, isn’t it?” “Yep. She insisted.” “She’s been fixated for a couple of weeks. I’ll sure be glad when we’re through this package.” Malli’s mummy and I would like to thank the very clever people at Pampers who came up with the idea of putting Elmo on the buttside of their diapers. It’s certainly made our lives much more colourful, challenging, interesting, odiferous, and loud. And here’s our nod to the festivities waiting in the wings: NOVEMBER 2006 We have a few Hallowe’en decorations up so far, and more are planned. George finds one of these little babies on the dining room table. (They’re about 3 cm tall.) He picks it up, he rolls it gingerly this way and that, he eyes it long and carefully. “Mary, is this a spider?” He holds it above his head, peers up at its belly from beneath. “Yes, it is.” “Is it a toy, or is it dead?” 779 Bank Street (613) 237-1483 hile American foreign policy politics since WWII has been a tangled mess of intrigue and strategizing, a strong tradition of investigative reporting has developed to untangle the US attempts to influence affairs abroad. Creative journalism has always been a hallmark of American letters and while the explosion of books tracking the War on Terror includes more than few that are more righteously polemical than insightful, a number of great works of non-fiction have come from writers at media outlets like the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, the New Yorker and Slate to name a few. Many readers are familiar with authors such as Robert Fisk, the Independent journalist and author of The Conquest of the Middle East, or Bob Woodward, the Washington Post editor who broke the Watergate scandal and authored Plan of Attack and State of Denial, but there are other great books that mix brilliant research with a gripping narrative. One of the best is Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001, the 2005 Pulitzer winner by Steve Coll. Coll, also a Washington Post writer, draws on an astonishing wealth of sources from the American, Saudi and Pakistani secret services to trace the shifting lines of alliance in Afghanistan through the cold war to 9/11. The book ends with September 10th, 2001 and the inevitablity of 9/11 looms everpresent like the black hole formed as the towers fell. He also includes a lengthy analysis of the tensions within Islam that gave birth to the extremism of Wahabbism. A particularly interesting book for Canadians to read in light of our present engagement and the naming of some Afghans as allies and others as terrorists by the Canadian government. To find out who these figures are and how they fit into the power dynamics of Afghan society one can turn to Coll’s meticulously researched book. Blood Money: Wasted Billions, Lost Lives, and Corporate Greed in Iraq by Los Angeles Times writer T. Christian Miller examines the reconstruction of Iraq by the Coalition Provisional Authority. In writing a new Iraqi constitution , the CPA issued its now infamous Order #39 that privatized state industries, allowed for 100% foreign ownership and granted immunity to private security contractors. As Miller writes, this resulted 98% of contracts going to well connected US companies, gross financial mismanagement by Americans and Iraqis alike, and bands of mercenaries operating with impunity throughout Iraq. The Assassin’s Gate: America in Iraq brings an interesting perspective as its author George Packer, a staff writer at The New Yorker, initially supported the war under the noble auspices of removing a dictator from power. Packer gives an insightful historical analysis of how America’s reconstruction policies could fall from the successes of the Marshall plan to the chaos and war profiteering of Iraq. An excellent mix of policy analysis as well as the harrowing experience of being in Baghdad alongside American troops. Fiasco: the military adventure in Iraq by Thomas Ricks traces the overwhelming difficulty that an occupying army faces when it fights a war against a local insurgency. Ricks, the Pentagon correspondent for the Washington Post and the author of the acclaimed account of Marine Corps boot camp, Making the Corps, draws on his extensive network of military contacts to explain the quagmire the US military has fallen into in facing an ever-proliferating insurgency. A book as complex and nuanced as the situation it describes, The Looming Tower brings a perspective often lacking: the Islamic perspective. In writing against the all too common demonization of Islam as the barbarians at the gate, Wright shows how mainstream Islam has itself struggled against extremists spawned by the post World War II writings of militant Islam jihadist founder Sayyid Qutb. To pick up these great books and more, stop by Sunnyside Library! The OSCAR NOVEMBER 2006 - OUR 31st YEAR Page 17 WINDSOR CHRONICLES B– PART 67 The Mud Baths Dear Tera, I t’s been a wet autumn. The leaves don’t fall, so much as get bullied from the trees by the driving rain. On the ground the dead leaves don’t crackle and crunch under foot. They squish – a sodden carpet. The tree fireworks haven’t been that brilliant this season either. No incandescent reds or neo-neon yellows. All the leaves have taken on a muddy hue, which means it’s easier for squirrels to hide. But there are advantages to this kind of weather. In their constant search for ways to fulfill our lives, the humanoids have removed the gravel patch at the west end of the park and replaced it with … mud! Mud! Mud! Glorious mud! There’s nothing quite like it for cooling the blood. Don’t get me wrong. I had nothing against that big patch of very fine gravel. You could get pretty good traction on it when chasing a ball, even if it was a bit rougher on the paw pads. The balls bounced well. And occasionally the humanoids would gather there to hit balls with sticks, and run around in a square pattern, stomping on bags as they went. It looked like a good game, although they didn’t let us chase the balls. Or fetch those big club-like sticks, for that matter. And I sort of liked that big high fence at one end of the gravel. Alpha used to throw a tennis ball high over the top, and my challenge was to learn to run around the fence to retrieve it. The removal of this big fence may be an impediment to the education of our younger dogs. Somehow they must learn that the shortest way to retrieve a ball is not always a straight line. But the gravelly patch was not very hospitable to animal life. The squirrels rarely ventured there on their journeys from the parking lot to the river. Once a year, in the late spring, old gramma snapping turtle would haul herself up the river bank to deposit her eggs along the area the humanoids call the third baseline. But that was about the extent of the gravel patch as a natural habitat. But mud! Mud! This truly is glorious! How considerate! First the trucks came in to deposit big heaps of topsoil. Then dozers came to scrape away the gravel. Somewhere around that time, the fences were removed. Then other vehicles spread the topsoil so that it was ready to receive the autumn rains and turn into our mud baths. I’m not sure that the humanoids are smart enough to leave a good thing alone, though. I hear Alpha tell the Pup that eventually they will put grass there. Something about turning a baseball diamond into a soccer pitch. I can only hope he’s making this up. Surely they can all see what a perfect addition the mud baths are to our community. But just in case he’s right, let’s take advantage of the luxuries while we can. The Contest Many of Zoscha’s readers have observed that she often sprinkles her prose with various quotes, parodies and allusions. If you can identify a reference, send your contest entry to oscar@ oldottawasouth.ca, using “Zoscha’s contest” in your title line. Or drop a note off at the Firehall. For last month’s column, the virtual pat on the head and doggie biscuit goes to Bill Grant of Windsor Avenue who correctly identified William Butler Yeats as the inspiration for Zoscha’s reference to “things fell apart, the centre could not hold, mere anarchy was loosed upon the world.” He assures us, however, that the best still have their conviction. So bark with me bark, Down at the park, Where we will all lark In the wonderful mud! Heading home as happy as a pig in mud, Zoscha Rare. Contemporary. Illuminating. 19 Condo Apartments in The Glebe. Few new buildings are built from the ground up in The Glebe. Fewer still arrive with such panache. “g” will combine utility with delight in an extraordinary display of modern architecture. Will you be one of the lucky few to live there? We’re launching soon, so call 613-562-4663 today to receive an invitation to our exclusive launch event. It will put you at the head of the line. 613-562-4663 domicile.ca Page 18 The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR NOVEMBER 2006 NOVEMBER 2006 The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR Page 19 Cat Rescue Network Light Up Your World Poupon and her kittens By Jennifer Davies A young female short haired tabby, who the rescuer named Poupon, is presently being kept on a bed of straw in a garage. She was found starving in a ditch (not a very experienced mother) and trying to feed 6 day old kittens. Cat Rescue Network had no foster homes available, and the person who found the cat got the same response from every rescue. She agreed to feed and shelter the cat and kittens in her garage, and give them a bed of straw. Poupon was very thin we worried that she would be unable to feed all of her kittens, so the rescuer fed the mother good quality kitten food and cats milk. The kittens are now 6 weeks old, robust and playful, and the mother has been vaccinated and spayed. Poupon is a young, timid cat who will hide when someone initially enters her space. She was too naive about protecting herself to be feral; but her fear and starvation indicates that she had been on her on for some time. The fact that she had her babies in an open ditch tells us that she had most likely never had kittens before and that she did not know she was in labor until the kittens were born. When the rescuer carried her kittens to the garage, Poupon followed at a distance. Instead of trying to take the kittens away, she jumped into the box and began to nurse them. Poupon is very affectionate with the lady who gave her the bed and food; and she slowly forms attachments to other people who visit in her garage. Her kittens are now in foster care and Poupon is still in the garage. She likes her accommodations but deserves a forever home. Clover Clover was one of four siblings found sealed in box and left on the doorstep of a local business. The kittens were about 7 weeks old, were cold, hungry and sick. Clover was cared for in a foster home, and eventually adopted with one of her siblings. She was not a robust kitten and was eventually diagnosed with food allergies. The situation in the adoptive home had also changed. The family now had a house, a new baby and a dog to look after. The sickly kitten could not be given the individual care and attention she initially needed. She would eat the dog’s food, or any other food around the house, and her allergies would flare up. Clover was returned to the Cat Rescue Network and placed on an elimination diet. She has not had a recurrence of the allergy, has a good appetite, and can eat an assortment of foods purchased from pet stores or veterinarians. She is a healthy, friendly and affectionate cat of about 2 years old. All she needs now is a permanent home with a limited number of animals; or another cat with food allergies; so that the type of food she eats can be controlled. To enquire about adopting email flora_ louise@yahoo.ca or phone 613-820-7088. The Cat Rescue Network charges an adoption fee to offset veterinary costs. H ave you ever redecorated a room --- beautiful furnishings, vibrant wall colours, perfect window treatments --- only to find the room feels fabulous during the day, but at night, feels a bit drab and empty, maybe even a bit grey? Chances are, your lighting is not quite right, and it is disturbing the overall effect of the room. Here, then, are a few tips for successful lighting. First off, light needs to be layered to work properly. Remember, the eye needs to see not just one glaring source of light, but different types of light, working together to create a seamless whole. That being said, every room needs three different types of lighting: ambient, task, and accent. Ambient light is the general light you need to see by, or to function, when you enter a room. Oftentimes, this is the overhead light or recessed lighting that is turned on when we enter a room. Task lighting allows us to perform a specific task in a room. Reading lamps are a good example, as are recessed pot lights, illuminating a favourite painting or piece of sculpture at night. Accent lighting is the sparkle in a room. For example, the candle on the mantelpiece; the decorative wall sconce that gives off very little light, but is a beautiful piece of art in itself; or, the tiny recessed light in a cabinet that causes the wood to glow. Accent light often introduces an element of surprise, or a touch of light to a room. It doesn’t provide much illumination, but it definitely makes the room more interesting. If any of your rooms feel a little drab or dark at night, check to see if they contain these three types of lighting. You’ll be amazed at how seemingly small lighting changes can make such a huge difference! Jennifer Davies is owner of “Interiors for Living”, an Ottawa-based interior decorating company. If you have any decorating questions, or comments on this article, she can be reached at jenniferadavies@sympatico.ca or 613521-2990. Ask the designer- Brenna Dallaway Creating A Welcoming Holiday Brunch. By Brenna Dallaway I ’d like to try something different for entertaining this year. The holidays are so hectic- after planning and preparing dinner parties I’m so exhausted that I end up not enjoying myself! Do you have any alternate ideas to help me plan a easy special meal for my close friends and family?” Whether you’re dashing through the snow or skating on the canal with all the winter activities in our midst why not start the day off with a charming holiday brunch? Have fun creating a festive decor of understated elegance for you and your guests. No need to forego the formality of an evening event, aim for the atmosphere of a refined afternoon tea for your brunch. Here are some tips to create a beautiful brunch: Get out your sparkling stemware! White wine glasses are an appropriate choice for a holiday brunch; they’re thinner than red wine glasses yet larger than a champagne flute. Polish your silver flatware, tea set and an urn for flowers. Any grocer carries a polishing kit but you could do it yourself with baking soda and hot water at home. Winter roses, classically beautiful, are a charming alternative floral arrangement for the holidays. Choose from the lighter creams to the deeper reds. Combine all of this with an elegant linen taupe table runner and napkins. And for a bit of holiday charm add ornaments in lively colours either spilling over in bowls or on plates as place cards. A buffet means less work so you can start decorating your dining room in advance if needed. Meals such as eggs Benedict, smoked salmon and delicious biscuits, can be placed in warming chafing dishes on a buffet or side table. Chafing dishes can be rented or visit our local antique shoppes. Be sure to place a linen tablecloth on your buffet! Guests can help themselves to the prepared meal leaving you more time to enjoy. The holidays are mean to be holidays after all - encourage your guest to help themselves to many helpings! What a wonderful warm time of year to spend with our loved ones. Eat Drink and be Merry! Brenna Dallaway is the owner and head designer of philosophy interiors, interior design studio based in the Ottawa South area. For any questions on interior design that you would like addressed in the Oscar Please email info@ philosophyinteriors.ca or oscar@ oldottawasouth.ca. www.philosophyinteiors.ca. Page 20 The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR NOVEMBER 2006 Moving and Grooving at Corpus Christi School By Missy Fraser S day of physical activity. Students are also timing and recording their other physical activity each day. The combined grand total of minutes for the school will be entered in a contest with Wonder Fresh for school prizes. The Cross Country Team competed in a citywide meet at the Terry Fox Sports Facility on October 4, 2006. Congratulations to all of the team for their dedication and hard work. Way to go! Corpus Christi is pleased to announce the election of the 2006-07 School Council. This year’s co-chairs are Susan Murray and Jane Spiteri. In addition to support for school-wide arts programming, literacy activities, and social justice initiatives, this year’s Council is focusing on the greening and re-equipping of the schoolyard. To find out more about this initiative and other exciting Corpus Christi School activities please visit: Corpuspta@sympatico.ca or call the office at 613-232-9743. tudents and staff at Corpus Christi are moving and grooving this fall in a series of new activities designed to increase physical fitness and encourage fun and playfulness at school. On November 9th Corpus Christi School will hold its first ever “Dance-a thon”. Students will visit the gym for one-hour blocks to share their moves and have some fun. The School Council has organized the event to raise funds for the Corpus arts programme and to purchase books and sports equipment. “Presswood Dance-a-thons”, a company new to Ottawa, is providing the equipment, sponsor forms and a DJ. Staff and parents are eagerly anticipating upcoming visits from Dr. Terry Orlick and John Coleman later this fall. Dr. Orlick is the founder of the “Zone of Excellence” and a world renowned leader in high level performance psychology and personal excellence. He has worked extensively with children and teenagers to help them increase self-confidence and experience more harmony and joy in their lives. Terry and John will share their expertise in cooperative games and relaxation strategies with students and teachers. Each school day from October 16 to December 3, students will be dancing to fine disco tunes while participating in the “Wonder Fresh Fitness Challenge”. Students are participating in this daily exercise programme to meet the new provincial Corpus Christi students take to the hill at Mooney’s Bay after the OCCS Board Cross Country Meet on requirement for a minimum of twenty minutes a October 4. Lady Evelyn Fall Fair By Brian Donahue O n Saturday, September 30 Lady Evelyn Alternative School held a Fall Fair in support of fundraising for the school computer lab. With the beautiful fall weather, many games were held in the school yard. There was also a student talent show in the gymnasium, organized by teachers Jen Dawson and Donna Bondy. One of the most popular activities was the “Cake Walk” game set up in the school lobby area. Cakes and desserts were donated by parents and staff (an impressive selection of treats Many students enjoyed the water games ! it was !). A musical chairs style game decided which lucky participant got to choose each cake treat. Specially placed floor circles concealed a number. Participants could purchase a circle for a loonie and move about the floor pattern as the music played. When the music stopped each participant checked their hidden circle number against the winning number drawn each time. Lots of fun ! Principal Lori Lovett says it was one of the best organized and attended fundraising events in recent memory. “There was such a great spirit of cooperation among the students, staff, and parents which made the day such a great success”. Many friends of the school and neighbourhood residents also took advantage of the event to come by and check out the school, have a coffee or attend the talent show. In total, approximately $1700 was raised from the fair towards the cost of the school computer lab. Many thanks go out to the lead parent volunteer Heather Muir and all the staff, students, parents and friends who attended and participated in making the Fall Fair such a huge success ! The OSCAR NOVEMBER 2006 - OUR 31st YEAR Page 21 AMICALEMENT VOTRE L’Amicale francophone fait sa rentrée ! Karine Briand, pour l’Amicale Francophone N otre assemblée générale s’est tenue lundi 16 octobre 2006 et nous a permis de procéder à l’élection d’un nouveau conseil d’administration composé de : Monique Sénéchal: présidente, Doreen Drolet: vice-présidente et programmation, Anne Donnadieu: trésorière, Isabel Cyr: secrétaire et site web, Jean Maurice Djossou social et culturel, Guy Giguère: développement, Karine Briand : communications ; Johanne Bérubé (Heron Park), Gilles Hébert (Ottawa Est), Catherine Paris (Glebe) et Hans Ruprecht (Ottawa Sud) comme représentants de quartier ; Margaux Béland, Nabila Kaci et Alexandre Matte comme membres associés. Ce nouveau conseil d’administration s’est donné pour mission d’optimiser le site web de l’Amicale et de poursuivre le développement de la programmation francophone en partenariat avec nos institutions communautaires. Il souhaite par ailleurs poursuivre son implication dans deux projets très prometteurs pour lesquels l’Amicale a été retenue comme partenaire par la ville d’Ottawa. Le premier, auquel participent également le MIFO, le centre Franc-Ouest et le Patro d’Ottawa, vise à l’élaboration pour 2007, d’un guide spécifique de toutes les activités récréatives offertes en français à Ottawa. Le second est quant à lui un projet pilote d’aide aux entreprises développé en partenariat avec le Regroupement des gens d’affaires (RGA) pour offrir aux gens d’affaires de la région des outils de mise en valeur du service à la clientèle en français et en anglais. Nous remercions tous les participants à cette assemblée et souhaitons la bienvenue aux nouveaux membres ! Un grand merci également aux directions des écoles FrancoJeunesse et Lamoureux pour leur appui dans la diffusion de nos messages… sans oublier nos nombreux colleurs d’affiches ! Les réunions du CA (19h30) et du comité social (19h00) ont lieu le premier lundi du mois au centre communautaire du Glebe. Elles sont ouvertes à tous. Pour tous ceux d’entre vous qui n’ont pas pu participer à l’assemblée générale ou qui découvrez l’Amicale par le biais de cette chronique, sachez qu’il est possible d’adhérer à notre association en tout temps. Nos membres prennent l’initiative ! En selle pour une année de l’Amicale sous le signe de l’expansion! L’Amicale a entamé cette saison automnale avec toute une série de nouveaux rendez-vous qui viennent s’ajouter à la palette de nos activités déjà bien rodées. Les partenariats développés par l’Amicale avec les associations communautaires de nos quartiers au cours de l’année 2006 ont en effet débouchés sur la création de nouvelles activités récréatives en français. Les centres communautaires du Glebe et d’Ottawa Est proposent déjà depuis septembre un ensemble de programmes en français pour enfants et adultes: cours de chant, formation en garde d’enfants, services d’aide aux devoirs pour les élèves de la première à la sixième année - dans le Glebe; activités sportives pour les 4/8 ans et séances de ballon panier pour adultes en équipe mixte - dans Ottawa Est. L’Amicale poursuit par ailleurs sa collaboration avec les centres communautaires d’Ottawa Sud et de Heron Park en vue d’offrir sous peu des groupes de jeux et un atelier d’art dramatique pour enfants en français. Surveillez les dates d’inscriptions dans la programmation de vos centres communautaires pour la prochaine session d’hiver. Le cercle de lecture a repris ses séances et vous invite à partager votre passion pour les livres dans une atmosphère conviviale. Les rencontres ont lieu le premier mercredi du mois, à 19h00 au centre communautaire du Glebe. Le cinéma francophone est également à l’affiche de cette rentrée. Le film « Les Choristes » de Christophe Stop Climate Chaos Stop Climate Chaos Global Day of Action November 4, 2006 1:00 p.m. Parliament Hill R Barratier, avec Gérard Jugnot sera projeté le vendredi 1er décembre à 19h00, au centre communautaire du Glebe. Ce film a reçu la classification « visa général »… une belle sortie familiale en perspective ! Durée du film 1h35. Entrée libre pour tous. http://www.avoir-alire.com/article. php3?id_article=4430 ising CO2 levels from burning coal, oil and natural gas s fueling a climate crisis that already kills 150,000 people globally each year. Alternative energy solutions exist, but public investment is needed to accelerate their development; instead, Canada subsidizes environmental catastrophes like Alberta’s tar sands and fights wars to control and continue to exploit global oil reserves On Nov 4, people in Canada and at least 47 other countries around the world, will take to the streets, in what is planned to be the largest international day of action yet to stop climate chaos. www.ACTfortheEarth.org/climatechaos www.climateactionnetwork.ca www.ourclimate.ca Deux de nos membres vous proposent de faire de l’exercice en plein air dans le secteur Vieil Ottawa Sud. Joignez-vous à eux par temps clément, pour un parcours de marche à bon pas d’environ une heure. Rendezvous le vendredi matin à 7h00 devant la bibliothèque Sunnyside, à partir du 6 octobre. « Les petits francos à la biblio » est un rendez-vous qui vous est proposé par Justine (7 ans), Jaxon (5 ans) et leur maman, dans la section enfants de la bibliothèque Sunnyside. Venez les rejoindre tous les vendredis aprèsmidis entre 16h30 et 17h30 pour y lire des livres et des bandes-dessinées, colorier et faire un brin de jasette en français. Un groupe de bridge est en préparation…une affaire à suivre pour les amateurs de cartes ! Si vous êtes intéressés, n’hésitez-pas à communiquer vos coordonnées à Colette via notre adresse : amicale05@ sympatico.ca À l’occasion du centenaire de la naissance de Samuel Beckett, Doreen vous propose une sortie de groupe pour voir la pièce de théâtre « En attendant Godot », le 12 décembre 2006 au CNA. Contactez l’Amicale. L’Amicale vous encourage à initier de tels groupes d’activités sportives, récréatives ou culturelles dont elle se fera le relais auprès des autres membres de votre communauté. Nous vous rappelons que l’Amicale francophone est ouverte à tous les francophiles et francophones désireux de socialiser en français. Merci d’adresser vos demandes d’informations ou d’inscriptions à notre liste de distribution électronique ainsi que vos commentaires à : amicale05@ sympatico.ca The OSCAR Page 22 Glebe Cooperative Nursery School Serves Families Throughout Ottawa Karri Munn-Venn T hat’s Evan’s letter, Mummy!”, Gabriel exclaims as he spies a capital E on the side of the cereal box. Gabriel is three years old and is in his second year of preschool at the Glebe Cooperative Nursery School (GCNS). Evan is his best buddy. E is the “letter of the week”. Gabriel is obviously proud to have learned a new letter and I am thrilled to see the positive impact of the GCNS program. The GCNS has been serving Ottawa families for over 25 years. While most of the nursery school children live in the Glebe, others come from Old Ottawa South, Alta Vista, Riverview Park and Hintonburg. This wonderful little school offers a supportive and stimulating program for 51 children aged 18 months to 5 years. Engaging weekly themes – such as “the harvest”, “wild animals”, and “Canada” – and special dress-up days provide the backdrop for creative activities that inspire, entertain, and educate the school’s young students. Housed in the Glebe Community Centre, the GCNS also offers a vibrant new classroom, outdoor playground, and a weekly music program. A few spots are still open in the senior preschool afternoon program, Mondays to Thursdays from 1:00 - 3:30. Children must be 2½ to 4½ years of age. Come and join this fantastic cooperative and give your child a wonderful preschool experience. Registration kits are available at the school or online at www. theglebeonline.ca (under “schools”). For more information, call our Registrar, Tracy at 230-6578. - OUR 31st YEAR NOVEMBER 2006 Expedition Canada Tour By James Hunter E xperience the adventure of tackling a hurricane in a rowboat, cycling across vast continents and trekking through the world?s coldest inhabited place in the first human powered circumnavigation of the earth.Colin Angus and Julie Wafaei take you on their 43,000 km journey by rowboat, bicycle, foot and ski, completing what Outside Magazine and many others have called ?one of the last great expeditions?. The goal of their expedition and this tour is to show just how far you can take nonmotorized transportation and to promote no or low emission transportation to combat climate change. The Show The Expedition Canada Tour is a speaking tour that will also premiere the documentary “Beyond the Horizon”. The two hour show includes a speaking presention by Colin and Julie, followed by a viewing of the 55 minute documentary. Colin’s two previous films have already won 8 awards, including the Best Adventure Film at the Telluride Mountain Film Festival. You will also have the opportunity to win some great prizes, including: Grand Prizes: 1 Norco Performance VFR 4 Bike (value $650.00)1 Helly Hansen “Vinter” Jacket (value $450.00)(draw at the end of the tour) Door Prize:1 Helly Hansen Lifa Long Sleeved Crew (value $45.00)(draw every show) Wednesday, November 22, 2006 7:00 - 9:00 pm (doors at 6:30 pm) Nepean High School Auditorium, 574 Broadview Ave., Ottawa Presented by Nakkertok Crosscountry Ski Club For information contact: Sinjin. email: ottawa.show@magma.ca @ magma.ca Tickets: Mountain Equipment Co-op, 366 Richmond Road, 613-729-2700 Trailhead, 1960 Scott St., 613-7224229 Tickets will also be sold to general public for $15 through certain local retailers, including Trailhead and MEC (commencing on October 15th). Remaining unsold tickets will be $20 at the door. More information: http://www.magma. ca/~sdixonwa/ExpeditionCanadaTour. html Autumn At Westboro Academy By Ann Winters S eptember and October activities at Westboro Academy have run the gamut from elections, community involvement and space to pumpkins and Halloween activities. The student council election was a good learning experience on ownership and responsibility. With the new council firmly in place, you can feel the students’ pride in their school. There are many ways to teaching and “by example” is a good one. What better way to instill the values of dedication and giving than to participate in the Terry Fox Walk. On September 29, our students from Grades 1 to 8 walked for an hour in Brewer Park to raise funds for the Terry Fox Foundation. And involvement wasn’t limited to students. Parents, teachers and staff also donned comfortable shoes and collected pledges. Thanks to everyone’s contributions, a grand total of $3,042.00 was donated to Terry’s cause. For Grade 6 and 7 students, a three-day trip to the Cosmodome opened a whole new universe. As part of Westboro’s science program, our students learned about survival in space, weightlessness, propulsion and space simulations. They became part of a space shuttle crew that, through teamwork, had to invent and build a variety of scientific experiments. In marked contrast, our Grade 2 and 3 students took a leap back in time. As part of their social studies, they experienced life from two centuries ago with a visit to a pioneer homestead. No modern-day technology there. Just horses, wagons and simple but effective farm tools. Sometimes you have to look back to appreciate today. Our JKs to Grade Ones, during a field trip to Saunders Farm, learned the secrets of the Pumpkin Patch and the roles of bees in plant growth. Topped off with wagon rides and hay jumps, it was a perfect day in the country. Pumpkins took a different meaning at the Pumpkin Run event on Monday, October 16. Organized by the Ottawa Independent Schools’ Athletic Association, the Pumpkin Run offers a series of races for different age groups: 1.5 km for the younger ones (eight-year-olds) to 3 km for the 13years olds. Our students in Grades, 3, 4, 5 and 8 posted excellent results and had a great time. As we look ahead to the next two months, there are some notable events on our calendar. November 15th and 16th are our Open House dates. We look forward to meeting and greeting you. Our ad in the OSCAR provides more details. The Westboro Academy junior and senior choirs are in fine voice and the Grade 6 band members are getting their notes in order for Santa’s breakfast. If you are interested in discovering the Westboro difference for your child, call us at 613-737-9543 or visit us at www.westboroacademy.ca NOVEMBER 2006 The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR Page 23 Books, Books, Books For Kids By Kim Ferguson A t Kaleidoscope Kids’ Books we’re already getting many requests for recommendations on good gift books for birthdays, baby showers, and the upcoming gift giving holidays. Here are some of our favourites: For the board book set, you really can’t go wrong with Sandra Boynton; she has cute but simple animal illustrations, catchy rhymes and stories that parents don’t mind reading 400 times (“The cow says moo, the sheep says baa, three singing pigs say la la la…” is burned indelibly in my brain).Wait, you say, we have all of those already. Did you know that a new Boynton book has just been released? Called Your Personal Penguin, it even has a link to download it in vocal format sung by none other than everyone’s favourite Monkee, Davy Jones. Some other very popular board/activity books at the store are My Grandma’s Purse and My Grandpa’s Briefcase, filled with things to play with including funny glasses and Grandpa’s handy whoopee cushion! Ahh … the picture books. There are so many beautiful ones that it’s hard to recommend just a few. A recent release called I Will Hold You Till You Sleep by Linda Zuckerman and illustrated by Jon J. Muth (Zen Shorts, Stone Soup, The Three Questions) is rivaling Robert Munsch’s Love You Forever for lovely baby gift book status and making people cry in the store when they read it (including us, especially Kelly). Wallace Edwards, who hails from the Kingston area, has just come out with a great book with his usual fantastic illustrations. The Extinct Files is about a boy doing a dinosaur project for school that proves that they have not died out after all. Other great gift titles include Kelly’s favourite, the Toot and Puddle books by Hollie Hobbie about two cute pigs and their adventures, Once I Ate a Pie dog poems by Patricia Maclachlan and Owen and Mzee, a true story by Isabella Hafkoff, about a baby hippo swept away by the tsunami, taken to a game reserve and adopted by a cranky old turtle. You also can’t miss with some old favourites like Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak or Karin’s recent story time favourite Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner. Who wouldn’t enjoy clapping along and speaking in a fine Spanish accent? In kids fiction, there are a lot of great picks including the latest in a number of popular series such as Artemis Fowl by Eion Colfer, A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket [“The End” which is actually the end of the series…)] and the Adventures of Captain Underpants (Let’s Potty!). For the fairy fans in the crowd, there is quite a selection of the Daisy Meadows’ Rainbow Fairies, Weather Fairies, Jewel Fairies, Pet Fairies, Party Fairies and recently released Days of the Week Fairies. We get most of these from England by popular demand, as only the Rainbow and Weather Fairies are available here in Canada. For fantasy lovers, some The Water Cycle By Charles Billington reasons: gardening, watering livestock, fishing on the lake and tourism. But the hat is the connection between biggest and most important use is as a your kitchen faucet, winter source of drinking water for towns and snow and clouds in the sky? villages in the Mississippi and Rideau To water specialists, they would say that valleys. In our area, we normally get about all of those things are part of the water 850 mm of rain and snow each year. cycle. To regular people, it is not that Generally speaking, about 200 mm obvious. of that falls as snow. Historically, the The water cycle is a fancy way of describing the constant movement of rains have been fairly predictable and water in the environment. For example, regularly distributed across all months. rain falls onto the ground. But it doesn’t But things are changing. Droughts, stay there. The rain does one of many severe rainstorms, floods and irregular things when it touches down. It can run rainfall are becoming more common. Through the Source Water off the surface into a body of water like a Protection program, we are now mapping lake, river or stream. It could filter into the soil and join the “ground water”. the quantity, quality and movement It could evaporate directly back into of water through the two watersheds. the air. It might be taken up by some It is critical for us to know that the maple roots and travel through the tree municipal drinking water supplies will for eventual return to the air. Or, if it’s be secure even in the face of changing cold enough, it could freeze and lie for climatic conditions. Understanding the months as snow or ice waiting to flow water cycle in our valleys is the first step towards safe, clean and abundant again in the spring. Let’s say the rain runs into a stream drinking water for everyone. Charles Billington is Director, which flows into your lake. During the Community Relations Rideau Valley warm summer months, huge amounts Conservation Authority of water evaporate from the lake and become clouds again. When they’re (613) 692-3571 ext 1116 thick enough, new water droplets (rain) 1-800-267-3504 ext 1116 fall again somewhere else and the water charles.billington@rideauvalley.on.ca cycle starts all over again. People use the water cycle for many W series we really like are the Charlie Bone books by Jenny Nimmo and Magyk and Flyte by Angie Sage. I highly recommend anything by Tamora Pierce or Kenneth Oppel . For young collectors, it can be very exciting to receive a book signed by the author. To feed this need, we will soon be hosting three local author events where signed copies and opportunities to chat with bonafide writers will abound: Saturday, November 18th from 1-3 pm Tom Henighen will be launching his new book Viking Terror. Adventure, magic and Viking mythology - who could ask for more? Friday , November 24th from 7pm at the Arrow and the Loon, Brian Doyle, author of over a dozen books and winner of several national and international awards, will join us to talk about writing and read from one of his books. Saturday December 2nd from 1-3 pm we will celebrate Sharon Abron Drache’s book, The Lubavitchers Are Coming to Second Avenue. It’s a magical and mystical Hannukah and Christmas story set in the Glebe. For the non-fiction fan of history, Terry Deary’s Horrible Histories are a lot of fun (history with the nasty bits left in). Great reference books abound, from the always interesting and sometimes gross Guiness Book of World Records, to DK’s Zoom, (all you ever wanted to know about vehicles), and The Dangerous Book for Boys (the title says it all). The “Ology” books are on many people’s gift registries this year including Wizardology, Dragonology, Fairyopolis, and the newest additions, “Piratology” and “A Princess Primer. Full of flaps to lift and treasures to discover these fascinating books keep kids reading and exploring for hours. Pop-up books have become amazing feats of engineering and cover classic stories such as Alice in Wonderland and The Jungle Book and non-fiction subjects such as dinosaurs, knights and castles, mummies and even Alfred Hitchcock Movies. A new version of Robert Sabuda’s “The Twelve Days of Christmas” has a tree with working lights pop up at the end. Speaking of Christmas books, there are many great ones including classics such as The Night Before Christmas and a recent twist on that tale, A Creature Was Stirring by Carter Goodrich, about a boy worried because he can’t get to sleep on Christmas Eve. There are many Hannukah titles and a few Kwanzaa tales too. Feel free to come on in and let us know if you’re searching for something for your mystery fan, cat lover or hockey aficionado. We love helping people find just the right book for the special people in their lives. Kaleidoscope Kids’ Books is located upstairs in the Fifth Avenue Court at Bank and Fifth in the Glebe. The OSCAR Page 24 - OUR 31st YEAR NOVEMBER 2006 Volunteers Take On The Elements And Have A Successful Day Along The Rideau phase. The work of all three crews is enabling the healthy growth of over 125 trees which were planted last spring by many of the same volunteers. In addition to helping the newly planted trees flourish the existing trees are also benefiting from having the additional space and light to grow. The pruning and removal of the suckers is also creating a safer environment for our community. It was not long ago that a walk along the park pathways did not provide the stroller with a glimpse of the Rideau River. The overgrowth of invasive Manitoba Maple trees created an unsafe environment. Today you can Gary Lum Enjoying the Outdoors By Gary Lum W hen daylight broke through the rain and clouds, it looked like it was going to be a very gloomy day to take on the work in our parks. Saturday, October 14 looked like it was measuring up to be a frigid and very wet morning. Despite all the ominous signs of really bad weather, residents of Old Ottawa South showed up in sufficient numbers to make a huge dent in maintaining the urban forest that runs along the banks of the Rideau River. Peter Wells organized volunteers to work from Brighton Park, eastward towards the Main Street Bridge. Peter and his volunteers concentrated on removing the Manitoba suckers which have appeared since we cleaned the area last fall. The banks of the Rideau are showing well after their efforts. On the west side of the parks, from the Pump House to the Bank Street Bridge, Linda Thom mustered up a small army of workers that did a clean sweep of the area. Many of the Manitoba Maple suckers that are invading the area were removed. A major pruning initiative also happened which has transformed the area in a very positive fashion. Working from Windsor Park up to the Pump House was another brigade supporting Doug Flowers, our Tree Inspector from the City of Ottawa. That crew was able to remove many suckers and initiate a major pruning stroll from the Bank Street Bridge to the Main Street Bridge and view the Rideau River most of the way. Your sense of safety is heightened by the fact that there are only a few spots where you cannot see the river. We are planning to have outings every spring and fall to meet the objectives of the Vegetation and Management Plan (visit OSCA’s website for viewing). I shall be notifying the community of our next initiative which will take place during the spring of 2007. On behalf of the community I wish to thank the many volunteers, the City of Ottawa and ECOS for all their support. Blair Dowden and Peter Wells thinning out the vegetation Rick Eves, October Artist at Starbucks By Mary Anne Thompson T he wall behind the cream and sugar at Starbucks on Bank Street at Hopewell has been graced for the month of October by nine art pieces by artist, Rick Eves, of Old Ottawa South. The pieces at Starbucks represent a small group of recent original paintings, which Rick has made of Old Ottawa South during the last few months. Rick uses primarily acrylics, but he does also work in pen and ink, and mixed media. His visual artistry encompasses painting, drawing, spiritual pieces, portraits, art greeting cards and other creative projects. Rick has been painting for 25 years and his paintings and commission portraits appear in private and corporate collections in Canada, the U.S., England, Scotland, Europe, South America, and Africa. In the early 1980’s Rick left the OPP to become one of the first graduates of the three-year professional artist, Intensive Studies Program at the Ottawa School of Art. In his last year of this program, he was a street artist in the Byward Market for the NCC. Rick has also taken courses at Ottawa U and Algonquin College, and he has as well immersed himself for several years in comprehensive private studies of art. Rick is a people person, and he enjoys painting people engaging in the activities they love, in the geographical location and ambience of their choice. He does a great many local city scenes and urban locations in other countries. He also does landscapes, commissioned portraits, and blank Art Greeting Cards. Rick is also a published author of some essays and poetry, and this has led to an occasional production of Spiritual Inspiration pieces, which combine his art and writing. To keep in touch with people, Rick works part-time with the Glebe OutReach program that provides seniors in the neighbourhood with the services of a handi-man for odd jobs. Rick hopes that you have enjoyed his paintings at Starbucks. If you want more information about his art, or if you wish to purchase one of his paintings, contact Rick at 613-521-6069. The OSCAR NOVEMBER 2006 - OUR 31st YEAR Page 25 Marim Moreland, OOS Glassmaker Marim surrounded by some of her work By Lisa Xing F ramed by her cat and two dogs that are barking and running around the chair and table legs, Marim Moreland sits at the dining room table with a mug of coffee in a polka dotted mug. She’s wearing a blue pearlescent necklace with a seashell imprint and is surrounded by boxes and boxes full of these creations, large and small. She takes a sip from the mug and recounts the rekindling of her childhood love, and becoming a full-time artist. Originally from Montreal, Marim was an accountant for community groups in Ottawa until five years ago when she got cancer. After recovering, she decided to leave her old job behind. “I was good at accounting, but I just couldn’t go back,” she says. “I needed a change.” She says it was a trying time for her, but ultimately, it led her back to her childhood passion. With support from friends and her four children, Marim embarked on a project where she made more than 20 glass angels for the closest people who helped her through. “I realized after doing this that I really enjoyed glass. And then, I had the chance to get back into it.” With 30 years of doing stained glass under her belt and a little experience from a few university art and sculpture classes at McGill, Marim decided to immerse herself in fused glassmaking. She travelled in Canada and the States and took classes with world renowned glass artists like Rudi Gritsch and sink-making with Bert Weiss. From that point on, glassmaking became her new permanent job. For her projects, she draws mainly from nature. “I love the abstract parts of it,” she says. “I love the geometric forms of water, leaves and especially spaces between the leaves.” Marim has a deep fascination with glass. “It feels good to touch, and instantly warms up to your body temperatures,” she says. “And, when you think (about the fact) that it came from the ocean and sand, it’s just….” She smiles. But Marim’s passion is more specific than that. “I really like bowls and sink-making,” she says, with that same smile. “A round shape is more appealing to me than any other. I like the fact that they’re meant to hold something.” She also loves glass for its versatility. “I learned to mix colours and layer glass. The techniques are almost like what you’d do with paint, really. You can dilute it, use mediums like metal with it, or you can even brush it on like a painting with ground glass.” The very basic concept of fused glass is cutting glass and putting it into a pattern, she says. Afterwards, it’s put into a kiln to heat, then taken out to manipulate. “There are so many variations to it,” she says. “You can add metals to it, cut it or sandblast it.” Marim has three kilns in her basement that are all difference sizes for her wide range of projects. Growing up, Marim’s household was crazy, she says. “My mother was a widow and there were quite a few kids, but it was a blast.” It was also during this time that her love of art was nourished since her mother was also an artist. This, Marim says, affected the way she saw things from an early age. “She made sure we’d always have art materials to work with and she gave me her good eye for balance.” This can be seen in her view on art today: “I feel art is an important part of anyone’s life, even if it’s just a favourite colour.” Even as a child, she enjoyed glass more than any other medium. “I loved the way light goes through it.” Marim’s work is mainly sold and displayed in galleries. The National gallery in Ottawa sells her jewellery, but the majority of her larger pieces are wholesaled in the United States and in a Montreal gallery. She laughs when she says she has fun creating jewellery to match her glass plates. Not only that, she has no trouble coming up with unique ideas either. “I can sit there and do 20 to 60 pieces (of jewellery) with a palette of four colours, and they’ll all come out differently.” Marim slides her fingers across her signature glass sink design she made with her own secret method – a colourful pattern of striped glass sandblasted into a large clear piece and gazes around to the pieces displayed on her table. “In a way, it was always my intention to do this; I knew I’d always come back to it.” OOS Singer Takes the Stage at the NAC! Geri Childs and Evelyn Voigt By Edan Naumetz A friendly and familiar face in Old Ottawa South is a featured performer at a special celebration of winter this month at the National Arts Centre. Geri Childs is a former longtime resident of Windsor Avenue and Glen Avenue and will be familiar to patrons of Wag – she works there! She’s also an established member of the Ottawa music community and a talented jazz singer. On November 17, those talents will be on display when she appears with poet-performer Evelyn Voigt at the National Arts Centre’s 4th Stage in ‘Winter Songs & Stories.” The evening will be a mixture of songs sung by Geri and stories told by Evelyn. A trio of musicians will accompany them. Rene Gely, the musical arranger, will play guitar and piano. Martin Newman will play bass and Robert Graves will be the percussionist. Geri is excited about the chance to appear at the NAC and says the event marks an opportunity to reconnect with Ottawa audiences. She recently returned to Ottawa from seven years abroad. While in New York City and in Trinidad, her experiences ranged from performing with a steel-pan orchestra to being a featured vocalist in a 20-voice professional jazz chorus. Her return has made her think about what winter means. “Winter is a time to be introspective,” says Geri. “It may be a cliché to say winter defines Canadians. But I think it’s true to most that winter is a time of contemplation. It helps us test our resilience.” Her partner in the November 17 performance is friend Evelyn Voigt, who was born of German parents in a prisoner-of-war camp in Zimbabwe. She was raised on a farm in Tanzania and, although she has done a lot of travelling, she has made Ottawa her home.. Her performances, at Rasputin’s earlier this year, for example, draw on this rich background. Her combination of storytelling and poetry reading takes place with musical accompaniment and is unforgettable. Having grown up in Africa, Evelyn has developed a unique respect for the Canadian winter and finds the “warmth of winter” to be especially beautiful. “Winter is a time to look inside ourselves… a time of year we do not compete with nature. It provides an opportunity to be left to look inside ourselves,” says Evelyn, who also has an Old Ottawa South connection - she was a featured reader in the Athena Reading Series at Mother Tongue Books. If you’re interested in going to see “Winter Songs & Stories,’ tickets are $20 and they’re available at two wellknown OOS locations: Mother Tongue Books, 1067 Bank St., Ottawa, 613730-2346, and at the Ottawa Folklore Centre, 1111 Bank St., Ottawa, 613730-2887. You can also get tickets at the NAC box office. Page 26 The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR NOVEMBER 2006 Candidate For Mayor: Bob Chiarelli I believe that people want a balanced, centralist approach. A city hall with business-like management – including more public-private partnerships, less red tape and a responsible, affordable and believable tax plan. They want a city rich in arts and culture, a city that grows and develops its talent. Whether you just got here from a far off land – as my family did a generation ago – or whether you have been here for generations. We all want a city where no child goes hungry, or is without adequate housing. I want to make sure that every child in our community is given the full opportunity to achieve their potential. I have led innovative change. I have united rather than divided. I have been able to bring right and left to common ground. I have brought diverse cultures and faiths together to share a city of the future. I have brought urban and rural together with one agenda for the future. I have the best tax record in Ontario, while hiring significantly more police, firefighters, paramedics and transit operators. I’ve cut into the infrastructure gap and recognize that even more needs to be done. You know my style and my values -- As a lawyer, businessman, provincial legislator and a family man having parented 6 children in this community. My record is clear – innovative partnerships recognizing and tapping into community leadership – and working hard with every element of our great city – to help shape our city of the future. I led a city in which 94% of its residents believe we enjoy the best quality of life in Canada. I believe Ottawa is a community of communities. Old Ottawa South is as diverse as the residents who live, work and play in this vibrant community. I strongly believe that the key to Ottawa’s success is to keep its many unique and vibrant communities thriving and to tailor initiatives, programs and services to meet these unique needs. I will cap annual tax increases at 1.8% -- just below the rate of inflation. I will charge ahead with light rail. I want to move from landfills to green power. I want a future of light rail instead of a north-south expressway down Bronson or the AltaVista corridor. I remain committed to a balanced mix between financial stability and providing the services that people want and deserve in their communities. As a City, we must manage growth while reinvesting in our established neighbourhoods and community infrastructure. I have managed our change well in bringing this new city together. As we move through the transition from being a big little city to being a little big city I have the energy, the experience and the agenda to manage our change. Candidate For Mayor: Jane Scharf T he city is not a business it is a community. A well organized community is diligent, creative and responsible when it come to finances but they do not leave any members out. My priorities are: • Cleaning up the public consultation process primarily with an end to government funded lobby groups for big business and staff interference with presentations by the public accountability with the introduction of an appeal process for staff and council decisions which are unreasonable, unfair or unlawful. And I would introduce a motion for a local ombudsman. The duties of the ombudsman’s office would be to investigate complaints of wrongdoing by city staff, council, Ottawa Police Services, the local children’s aid society and school boards. Currently the provincial ombudsman does not have jurisdiction to handle such investigations. • Strengthening the local economy. This will be accomplished by giving better priority to the interests of local small and medium businesses. • Establishing humane methods of dealing with the poor and homeless. Currently the city uses criminalization to deal with homelessness illegally prosecuting destitute persons for begging, sleeping outside or congregating with others in public space. This method of policing poverty is expensive, ineffective and inhumane. Fixing the inequities in our market is the primary solution but comprehensive individual responses for those currently in great need is required if we want results. • Tax reform. I want to initiate a lawsuit in the public interest against the Federal and Provincial government regarding the loss of transfer payments. For a number of years, without an adjustment in our federal and provincial tax rates, funding to the city for programs and services have been arbitrarily cut. This withdrawal of funding for equalizing regions and individuals is a violation of section 36 of the Constitution and it is contrary to common law, which requires the government to clearly advise the public and get public consent before withdrawing a social benefit. Currently city hall tells us that if we want to maintain current levels of programs and services we must increase our local property taxes to foot the bill for the short fall after losing the funding. No we do not have to accept this atrocity without a fight. I want to serve as an advocate for the citizens of Ottawa with the provincial and federal government on all matters that effect the public interest. I have a degree in Social Science and training in Economic Development. As well, I worked as an advocate with administrative tribunals for over 20 years. From 1990-2002 I developed and operated 2 small rural businesses one of which is still operating and I have for several decades been a social activist primarily dealing with issues of equity and diversity. I know how to stand my ground when it comes to fighting bureaucracy because I am an effective political strategist and I am not easily intimidated or manipulated. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns or visit my website for more information. Emaill: jane@takebackcityhall.info Website: www.takebackcityhall.info NOVEMBER 2006 The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR Page 27 Candidate For Mayor: Alex Munter T he future of Ottawa depends on having strong, and vibrant neighbourhoods in our urban core – in communities like Old Ottawa South, and the Glebe. The number one threat to communities in our urban core is costly, unsustainable urban sprawl. Paving over the Leitrim Wetland, ramps on the Airport Parkway, the Alta Vista Expressway, cuts to public transit, and clear-cutting of trees and greenspace – these are all things that I have worked my entire political career to oppose. No city can be its best if the people who live and work there feel that their municipal government isn’t listening. I believe leadership starts with listening. It’s - working with people to achieve our common goals. That’s how I worked as the Councillor for Kanata and that’s the kind of City government I will run. This is a crucial election, because it is an election about the future. Our city is at a pivotal point in its history. Ottawa has a bright future ahead, but only if we make the right choices today about the kind of city we want for tomorrow. We can’t ignore the enormous environmental, social and economic challenges that face our city. We can’t afford the status quo until 2011. We need change now. One of those changes is on light rail, which is vital to Ottawa’s economic and environmental health. I’m a long-time booster of public transit, and voted for the light rail project on council in 2003: A route that took it to the airport and just beyond, with east-west service by 2009. We should fix, not nix, the current plan so it better meets all of Ottawa’s transit needs, and so it gets people out of their cars in a meaningful way. The expensive extension into Barrhaven, for example, will actually make commute times longer – and by the city’s own numbers, get only 160 people out of their cars. It’s a decision too important to Ottawa to be hatched in secrecy and then after years of delay, rushed through in the middle of an election to choose a new mayor. As a businessperson I learned of the city we want. the change we need. Alex Munter for Mayor energyideasexperience mayor | w w w. a l e x m u n t e r. c a | 613 2 4 1 - 2 4 8 9 the importance of setting goals. Here are my five goals for the future of our city: A city where neighbourhoods matter more - because right now too many communities are being left out or left behind. Most efficient city government in Canada - with no tax increases over the rate of inflation, and with a City Hall that gives communities a real say over the local transportation, recreation and planning issues that affect them. A family-friendly city - a safe and affordable place to raise kids, and build a home. The greenest city in Canada because right now we are headed in the opposite direction. A city that supports jobs and creates economic opportunity because we need a dynamic, thriving economy in order to succeed. We can reach these goals, but only with a change of leadership. As mayor, I’ll bring the energy to lead, ideas that make sense, and the right experience to make it happen. For more info, visit: www.alexmunter.ca Page 28 The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR NOVEMBER 2006 Candidate For Mayor: Barkley Pollock M y name is Barkley Pollock and I am running for mayor. You may not have heard of me, but I have been participating in debates and contributing my ideas. I work at the 507 Centre as a cook part-time that serves meals to the less fortunate and provides other services. I have volunteered for the last two Federal Liberal campaigns. I’m 27 and have one year of University business training. I decided to present my two main priorities to your community. If you want to read my other ideas or want more biographical information then I suggest you visit www.myspace. com/barkleypollockformayor. My first priority is to improve the city’s record on poverty and homelessness. Now that affordable housing is a municipal responsibility we can’t simply blame other levels of government We must do more and at least reach the target of 500 units of affordable housing each year. Unfortunately that’s approximately the number that has been built in the last four years. We need a “housing first” strategy that is more than just words. There are many successful programs that exist in other cities that can be implemented here. I participated in the “Solving Homelessness Debate” and you can read my answers on my site. In short I’ve suggested improvements to the housing registry in the form of a needs based points system rather than “first come first serve basis”, a plan to facilitate the building of rooming houses, a program that exists in Vancouver that puts the homeless in housing and gets them on social assistance all on the same day and incentives for the building of low cost integrated housing. Did you know that over 1000 children stayed in the city’s shelters in 2005? . I would encourage people to consider the needs of the less fortunate in the city when they vote. I have also suggested a plan to pay for my proposed increase in social spending. Property taxes are spiraling out of control. People on fixed incomes are being forced from their homes, mainly seniors and this will only get worse. That is why I am proposing a “municipal income tax.” No such tax exists in Canada and would require the legislative authority of the Provincial government. Municipal income tax exists in many countries including Japan, all off the Scandinavian countries and even in the United States (Ohio). I am proposing a progressive tax on wealthy Ottawans rather than a regressive flat tax like in Ohio. My tax proposal will allow us to meet the responsibilities downloaded by the province and end property tax increases and I would hope reduce property taxes in the future. If you want to donate to my campaign then write a cheque to the Ottawa Foodbank. Every dollar donated generates five dollars in the community and the food bank supports many agencies like the dropin-centre where I work. Candidate for Councillor: Ian Boyd City Staff are often seen as working at cross purposes rather than as an effective, efficient partnership. Responsiveness to constituents: There has been a lack of understanding, communication and responsiveness from the Council office with respect to Ward issues. This has been deteriorating over a number of years to the point where it has become difficult to achieve Ward goals and objectives. F rom conversations with constituents over the past few years, I believe the primary concerns of Ward 17 voters are: Property Taxes: Residential property taxes have been increasing at rates which residents deem excessive. Residents are concerned that the existing tax system is inequitable and that current increases risk making home ownership unaffordable over the long term. Fiscal Responsibility: Residents of Ward 17 want accountability at City Hall and they feel that Council should put more emphasis on employing accepted business principles and practices in the conduct of city business. The need for transference of funds from higher levels of Government to ease the burden of operating costs is part and parcel of this problem. City Council - City Staff Partnership: As evidenced during the O – Train debate, City Council and The policies and solutions that I propose to address these concerns are: Property Taxes: Property taxes and the corresponding rate of growth need to be indexed to an appropriate economic indicator, such as the Consumer Price Index (CPI). At the same time, Ottawa and other municipalities need to convince the province to replace the existing property tax system with a formula which is more equitable for existing homeowners. Fiscal Responsibility: City Council needs to adhere to the principle of a balanced budget. As difficult, complex and unpopular (with voters) as this concept might be, Council financial activities need to be undertaken with the same degree of business acumen and fiscal responsibility as successful business owners apply in running their own businesses. City Council - City Staff Partnership: If elected to Council, I will lead by example and strive to demonstrate the mutual benefits which can be derived from working together in a respectful, trusting, positive manner. Responsiveness to Constituents: A cornerstone of my candidacy is my commitment to provide a quick and effective response to concerns raised by Ward constituents. I firmly believe that open communication, including an ongoing dialogue between Councilors and constituents, is a prerequisite for effective representation at city hall. The expertise and experience I will bring to the job if elected are as follows: A well functioning, effective city Council depends upon the ability of Ward Councilors to work together, as a progressive, constructive, disciplined team. Decision making needs to be based upon sound economic principles and business practices, and be driven by constituent priorities. I believe that I have the interpersonal and business skills, and financial experience, to represent Ward 17 constituents in this manner and to champion your taxrelated issues. I have the experience, energy and commitment to represent the collective needs of Ward 17 constituents, and believe that I can make a significant contribution as your Councilor. NOVEMBER 2006 The OSCAR Page 29 - OUR 31st YEAR Candidate for Councillor: Jay Nordenstrom L iving downtown, we are all neighbours. We choose to live in older homes, with more character than closet space. We choose parks over huge lawns, walking over driving and proximity over privacy. Our children play together, go to school together and take lessons together at the community centre. We see each other on the bus going to work, and at the grocery store on the way home and at the park after dinner. This is not just a neighbourhood – it is a way of life. But it is a way of life under threat: citizens have to fight to keep the Sunnyside Library open, to clean up the parks, to keep a pool open, to plant trees at Windsor Park, to get a pothole fixed. Neighbours have to organize event after event to raise funds to rebuild the Firehall, while the City offers nothing but vague election year promises. New housing goes up, but not one nickel of development fees comes back to the neighbourhood. The cost of homes and taxes has climbed to the point where younger families are finding it hard to get in, and older people are finding it hard to stay. We pour millions of tax dollars out into the suburbs, and they pour thousands of cars back at us. Where is Councillor Doucet during all this? Fighting for a billion dollar glorified streetcar to the suburbs that will only perpetuate the development model that plagues us. Building a 5 million dollar bridge across the Canal – in another Ward – while people have to risk their lives to cross Bronson. The incumbent holds “summits” while residents have to post their own “go slow” signs to calm traffic on our streets. He is thinking globally but failing locally. Old Ottawa South is a treasure and it’s time City Hall understood that. It’s time that your generous contributions to the City be returned in kind – with real sidewalks instead of “temporary” asphalt ones, parks that get mowed, streetlights that get fixed, pools that get filled and a library with enough staff to stay open when we need it. It’s time that a beat cop returned to a green Bank Street. And it’s way past time that the Firehall be renovated so that families go there because they want to, not because they have to. It’s time for a new City Councillor. When I worked for Mayor Jim Watson, I saw what effective, energetic governance could do to improve life in our neighbourhoods. It’s time for that kind of governance again. It’s time for a constructive approach that achieves real results for your neighbourhood and the whole Ward. I will make you one promise: to tirelessly promote and protect the way of life that you and I have chosen by living in Capital Ward. To do it, I will need your consideration and your vote. I ask for both. Page 30 The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR NOVEMBER 2006 NOVEMBER 2006 The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR Page 31 Candidate for Councillor: Clive Doucet C apital Ward is at the heart of the city, thus the new growth and densification strategies of the city have immediate impacts for us. It’s essential to make sure these policies are people and neighbourhood friendly, not excuses for ugly, spot development and excessive traffic. Capital Ward hosts most of the cities major festivals and special events, from Winterlude to the Francophone Games. It has two universities and a 32,000-seat stadium, smack in the middle of it. The Councillor must ensure these many city wide events don’t negatively impact the ordinary, daily quality of life and at the same time pay attention to Little League, Community Centres and all the local events that give life zest. The other great challenge for the Ward is the Queensway and the city’s major north-south traffic arteries that cut through the Ward. So the chief concerns of Capital Ward residents are a) they want zoning, planning, park and community investment that preserves and enhances the best of what we already have; b) they don’t want the Queensway or north-south roads expanded; c) they want the provincial assessment property tax system reformed because under the present system our taxes increase without improved services. Policies and proposals don’t mean much without talented, hardworking people to make sure they happen. My office has always been staffed by Capital Ward community veterans: Donna Silver, past president of Heron Park; Pierre Johnson, past president of Old Ottawa East; Tara Pearman, community worker, Old Ottawa South and myself a veteran of the ‘Stop the Bronson Expressway’ wars. My policies are divided between the details of improving neighbourhood quality of life: renovating our community centres, more trees, more greenspace, wider sidewalks, safer intersections, stopping backyard development - this attention to neighbourhood detail must continue; but the big picture must also work for us, not against. This means Community Design Plans for Bank and Main to ensure intensification means mid-rise, not high rise - that’s 4 to 6 story, not 10 to 20. It also means city wide light rail, not widening the Queensway, not twinning the airport parkway, not building the Alta Vista Expressway. I’ve lived in Capital Ward all of my adult life and delivered on my previous campaign commitments – to bring in north-south electric light rail, stop the Bronson and Alta Vista expressway expansions, to re-invest in the Glebe Community Centre, the Old Firehall and create a Community Centre in Heron Park. It’s been an honour to be your representative and I humbly ask for your support on November 13. Candidate for Councillor: Sean Curran I am a proud resident of the Capital/Glebe Ward 17. I am fluently bilingual and a recent graduate of Carleton University. I have traveled extensively in Europe, Africa and Central America. In Africa and Central America, I participated in community development projects which helped shape my outlook. In Ghana and Honduras I saw people do twice as much with half as many resources. This is why I know City Hall can do so much better. This is also why my campaign signs are made out of recycled cardboard boxes. And yes, I am making a point. I also don’t have the money that some of my opponents might have. So I make do with what I have. But, I have more. We have ideas. And those ideas are what I think our City Council needs to listen to in order that they start thinking ‘Outside The Box’, because that well wrapped box that we have seen over the last three years is getting smaller and smaller, but more and more expensive. I am sure that is not what we want, or what we can afford. The current proposal for the LRT is a billion dollar boondoggle which will cost tax payers for years to come. It’s a north south solution to an east west traffic problem. Politics at it’s best. Had city hall been listening to us in the first place they would know that what we have been asking for is more buses, more frequent service and more routes. This combined with a switch from petrol to renewable biodiesel or ethanol is the responsible plan or action in regards to the environment. I would support the formation of a special task force composed of police, mental health workers and social workers to help deal with issues facing the homeless and marginalized people of our community and city. This new task force would be able to deal with all the issues involved with these people, many of whom suffer from mental illness and addiction. I am disgusted with the attitude many on city council have shown towards the most vulnerable of our society. They are easy targets for politicians. I believe that the people of Ottawa have always been generous and good people and will not let anyone be pushed aside. After all, we are only as strong as our weakest link. I believe in using the resources we have in our city in a much more frugal and efficient way. Volunteering in Africa and Central America has taught the value of a dollar. In Africa I witnessed people, just like you and me, accomplish twice as much with half as many resources as we have in Ottawa. My campaign signs are hand made from recycled material. I use a free hotmail account for my e-mail and I have a home office. All of these innovations have enabled me to run for city hall on a shoe string budget. If elected, I would oppose any raise in councilors’ salaries, any raise in taxes and scrutinize any new spending to ensure it is absolutely necessary. The “same old same old” culture of entitlement at city hall cannot be allowed to continue. Page 32 The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR Ottawa-Carleton Catholic School Board Candidate: Kathy Ablett initiative aimed to expand early learning and care opportunities for children 0-6 years Student Achievement Centres at each high school Student Success Teams in each high school Multi-year Capital Plan ($50 million) Good Places to Learn ($20 million allocated for refurbishing older facilities) Focus Programs – meeting successfully the needs of students within our schools who need a more hands-on approach to learning Future Challenges “Putting Students First” T hank you for the privilege of serving as your Catholic School Trustee. Your support and confidence over the past 15 years have been truly appreciated. Together we have faced challenges and shared some successes. I look forward to continuing this trend with your VOTE on November 13th. As your Trustee I am committed to the Promotion and Preservation of: Quality Catholic Education in our schools Continued Balanced Budgets – (student focussed) Success for all students (providing additional resources where necessary) System-wide planning and decisions Increased parent involvement (Parent Councils, home, school, church, Catholic School Parent Association) Communicating with our school neighbours to let them know what good things are happening because of and with our students. Safe Schools and Safe Communities. New Initiatives Best Start Programs – Provincial Balanced Budget Adequate Funding of Teacher Salaries Maintaining and increasing pupil enrolment both at elementary and secondary levels Transportation Consortium – savings based on ????? Reduction in Primary Grade Class Size Capital Planning – building schools where needed – removal of portables Provincial Government Directives – unknown as to ‘timing and expectations of’ - huge impact on school boards My Bio I am a: ØMother of three children (all graduates of our system). Ottawa-Carleton Catholic School Board Candidate: The Challenges Facing Our School Board in the Next Few Years Budget In the near future, our school boards will have to deal with budget constraints. Expertise in finance will be essential. I can contribute toward an efficient and effective resource allocation by establishing a way of allocating budget in an efficient and better way, while at the same time leading the way in a quest for worldclass education. . M Housing Authority as an Accounting and Allocations Manager and retired in early 2003. I have a 27-year old son and am married to Whitney Broussard, a retired mathematician who taught at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University. My volunteer work includes the Presidency of the Korean Association ØRegistered Nurse graduate of St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing ØVice-Chair of the Ottawa-Carleton Catholic School Board (serving a second term) and first elected Trustee in1988. ØDirector of Catholic Education Foundation (Alleviation of Poverty in our Schools) ØPast Chair of the Federation of Catholic Parent Teacher’s Association of Ontario. My Pledge I became a Trustee to be one of the decision makers on educational issues that impacted on my children. That focus has expanded to the 40,000 plus students of the Ottawa-Carleton Catholic School Board today. I am proud to say that I am a recent recipient of The Success by Six Making A Difference Award in recognition of the impact I have had on the lives of your children and grandchildren in the City of Ottawa. “Kathy truly does make a difference!” - Jim Shea, Superintendent of Education (Retired) upon attending her award presentation. Leadership that works for your children, for you and for all members of our Catholic community is my pledge in serving as your Catholic School Trustee. Together we will make a difference! Su Choi Broussard of Ottawa, the vice-Presidency of the Federation of Korean Associations in Canada. I am the vice-president of the Korean Woman’s International Network. I have served as the Chair of the Parish Pastoral Council of the Holy Korean Martyrs of Ottawa and since 2001 I have been the Chair of the Parish Finance Council. y name is Su Choi Broussard. I am a candidate for OttawaCarleton Catholic School Trustee, Zone 9 (River & Capital Wards – 16 & 17). I studied Political Science at Dalhousie University in Halifax and received a master’s degree. I received a Certified General Accountant of Ontario designation. I have worked at the Ottawa NOVEMBER 2006 Integration of Immigrant Children There is an influx of new immigrants with young children. To help those children in English is our immediate task. We should have concrete programs to integrate these children to our culture/customs, sports and social activities. We need educational programs for them to become active Canadians. My Proposed Policies to Meet These Challenges To have an efficient budget process establishing our priorities - to increase our resources and to decrease our expenditures on matters of low priorities; To study computer hardware inventory and update the same; To have a periodic close monitoring of the influx of new immigrants and appropriate educational programs for their children; and To establish operational goals of educational standards. My Background I am a professional accountant and I have an extensive working experience in the financial field . I have a very keen interest in education and am a firm believer in high standards of education. I have several years of teaching experience and I was the chair of the Ottawa Korean Language School for over 5 years. I was the vicepresident of the Heritage Language School Association of Ottawa. I believe in being an instrument of God’s work! I count on your vote to elect me as your Catholic School trustee for Zone 9. Thank you. The OSCAR NOVEMBER 2006 Ottawa-Carleton District School Board: T here are challenges but also opportunities awaiting the OCDSB this next term. We have a strong public school system in spite of funding shocks recently dealt out and we can build on this. This will be an important four years in many ways, with the present one perhaps of extraordinary importance. The previous Board embarked on an array of program and service - OUR 31st YEAR Page 33 Rob Campbell delivery reviews: Special Education, French Immersion, Secondary Schools and five-year Capital Planning, and others. These reviews will end, or be importantly advanced, this school year. They may all require multi-year implementation. These reviews are opportunities to further improve the Board’s high quality programs and services. They may require creative thinking and community engagement. The reviews also present challenges: ensuring we secure and synthesize available research and best practices information, ensuring lack of Provincial funding doesn’t define pedagogy, ensuring the community is fully engaged, that every precious dollar go further and finding the time in which to do all this properly. Now, when my hat went into the ring a few months ago I looked forward to discussing these reviews along with other ideas for improvement (set out on the campaign web site). And I still do. However there is no use in trying to ignore the important funding threat once again facing public education after some years of at least relative absence. This past summer the Province unexpectedly pushed significant real dollar per student core budget funding cuts onto Boards, instead of rescuing Boards from the past three years of steady decline in such budgets. All recent Provincial spin aside, the facts don’t lie. All large urban Boards are struggling. This year’s 200607 OCDSB balanced budget was approved in August only by making millions in cuts, by using all available Board reserves and by directing unusual and indefinite spending discipline for this school year. Unless the government relents, the 2007-08 budget will require even larger cuts and now with no reserves. Budget formation has already started. Everything will be on the table: school facilities, transport, teachers, special education, immigrant services and ESL, school budgets, relying on more fund-raising and charity, etc. Community consultation and serious communication with the Province clearly will have to be priorities this year. Your involvement could be important. I bring experience, ability and care to the role of Trustee. I’ve been on Glebe Collegiate’s School Council, chaired Hopewell’s, chaired the Glebe Parents’ Daycare, been Zone 9 rep to the umbrella Ottawa-Carleton Assembly of School Councils, chaired that Assembly and been a community rep on several OCDSB committees. I understand at least the broad needs and aspirations of students and families in Zone 9. I want to ensure that good practical and strategic decisions get made. I will vigorously defend the quality of public education and I’m hope to be able to join with the community in doing so. I am eager to discuss the issues with you, to listen to your priorities and to ensure our students continue to receive an excellent quality of education. Conseil des écoles catholiques de langue françaiese du Centre-Est: Madeleine Chevalier U n des piliers du Conseil scolaire, Mme Madeleine C h e v a l i e r c o m p l è t e s o n troisième mandat consécutif comme conseillère scolaire au sein du Conseil des écoles catholiques de langue française du Centre Est (CELFCE) où elle exerce un leadership depuis 1989. Elle a commencé à s’intéresser au dossier de l’éducation alors que ses trois enfants fréquentaient l’école élémentaire. Elle a travaillé à la mise sur pied des premiers Conseils d’école en province et fut présidente du Conseil d’école de sa communauté. Son travail à ce chapitre lui a valu la distinction de bénévole de l’année en 1987. Dans son rôle de conseillère scolaire, Mme Chevalier a piloté plusieurs dossiers au cours des années et elle a occupé, à tour de rôle, les postes de vice-présidente et de présidente du Conseil scolaire. Elle se dit fière des accomplissements du CECLFCE durant ces années et du rendement scolaire des élèves. Selon l’Office de la qualité et de la responsabilité en éducation (OQRE), le CECLFCE se classe parmi les six conseils scolaires les plus performants en Ontario et le premier parmi les conseils scolaires de langue française. Ce classement est basé sur les résultats obtenus par les élèves sur les tests provinciaux en lecture, écriture et en mathématiques. En plus de son dévouement pour le conseil scolaire, Mme Chevalier a siégé à plusieurs regroupements de conseillères et conseillers scolaires dont l’Association franco ontarienne des conseils scolaires catholiques et la Fédération nationale des conseillères et conseillers scolaires. En 2002, elle a été élue à la présidence de la Fédération nationale des conseils scolaires (FNCSF) et réélue à ce poste pendant trois années consécutives. C’est sous son leadership et sa présidence que le réseau national des conseils scolaires de langue française en milieu minoritaire et le Regroupement des directions générales en éducation ont été formés et consolidés. Élue par acclamation pour un quatrième mandat, Mme Chevalier s’engage à nouveau et avec conviction à la mise en oeuvre des priorités du CECLFCE et à la réussite des élèves, selon une vision fondée sur le Profil de sortie de l’élève et ses cinq cheminements: scolaire, personnel, professionnel, catholique et francophone. Elle prône une vision soutenue à long terme, axée sur la réussite scolaire et sur les besoins des élèves tout en répondant aux attentes des parents et de la communauté en matière d’éducation catholique dans les écoles de langue française. Page 34 The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR Conseils des écoles publiques de L’Est de l’Ontario: Dorcase Saintil, une femme d’action Reconnue pour son implication communautaire auprès de la communauté franco-haïtienne d’Ottawa, Madame Saintil croit dans un leadership participatif qui permet à tous les membres de la NOVEMBER 2006 Dorcase Saintil communauté de contribuer. C’est d’ailleurs cette vision qui lui permet d’occuper avec succès depuis sept ans le poste de directrice générale de la Coopérative pour le bien-être des aînés francophones de l’est de l’Ontario (CAFEO). que la Coalition pour prévenir l’itinérance chez les francophones d’Ottawa (CPIFO), la Coalition ethnoculturelle francophone d’Ottawa., et le conseil de l’association libérale fédérale d’Ottawa-Vanier. Dorcase Saintil, une femme de communauté Pendant des années, Madame Saintil a travaillé avec des gens de toutes les cultures. Elle a une profonde conviction quant à la richesse que peut amener la diversité. Madame Saintil est très sensible aux différentes barrières culturelles et sociales qui peuvent limiter le succès. Dorcase Saintil, une femme dévouée Elle se présente parce qu’elle croit que l’éducation est essentielle pour assurer l’avenir de nos enfants et de notre communauté. En tant que mère, elle sait à quel point il est important de s’impliquer dans la vie scolaire de nos enfants si l’on veut qu’ils et qu’elles réussissent. Dorcase Saintil, une femme engagée Madame Saintil est membre de plusieurs conseils d’administration de différents organismes communautaires de la région de la Capitale Nationale, telle En tant que canadienne née à l’extérieur du pays, elle est persuadée de la valeur ajoutée que les immigrants peuvent apporter au Canada et au CEPEO. Pour toutes ces raisons, elle veut s’impliquer et apporter sa contribution. Thank you Candidates OSCAR would like to thank all the candidates who sent an article and photo. The candidates for Mayor who did not respond: Piotr Anweiler, Robert Larter, and Larry O’Brien. Candidates for the various School Boards who did not respond: Patrucja Anweiler – Ottawa-Carleton Catholic School Boad; and Marielle Godbout – Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario. Report Card Of City Council’s Environmental Record Published By Sierra Club Canada Ottawa T he environmental voting record of Ottawa’s incumbent Mayor and City Councillors has been tracked and assessed by a coalition of three wellestablished groups. The report card lists the votes of the Mayor and all Councillors. The report card was produced by members of the Sierra Club of Canada-Ottawa Group, the Greenspace Alliance of Canada’s Capital, and the Coalition for a Healthy Ottawa-groups that include PhDs in Economics and Biochemistry, land planners, policy analysts and a range of other scientists and professionals. The groups selected 19 votes over the past three years that cover a range of environmental issues, including rezoning for development of some of the city’s most unique natural sites, funding of tree planting and other forestry needs, cosmetic use of pesticides, and public transit-related decisions. Over half the votes selected were from one of the three Budgets voted on by this Council. The results show a dismal record over the past three years, with only five Councillors getting an “A” or a “B.” Ten Councillors failed, even after applying a grading curve that gave an “F” only if the grade was below 30%. With this generous pass mark, the Mayor barely scraped through with a poor “D.” The worst voting records are those of Jan Harder, Gord Hunter, Shawn Little, Doug Thompson, Rick Chiarelli, Glenn Brooks, Rob Jellett and Eli El-Chantiry, all of them showing an “F-”, the lowest possible score. They are barely beaten by Peter Hume and Maria McRae (both with an “F”), with Rainer Bloess, Diane Deans and Mayor Bob Chiarelli only slightly ahead of them with a “D”. The most favourable records are those of Councillors Diane Holmes, Clive Doucet and Alex Cullen, followed closely by Jacques Legendre and Janet Stavinga, and slightly further by Georges Bédard, Peggy Feltmate and Michel Bellemare. The report card, including details on the specific votes and the rating criteria, can be found at http://www. ottawaenvironmentalvotes.org The Sierra Club of CanadaOttawa Group is an organization made up of volunteers who are involved in environmental campaigns and conservation projects of interest in the Ottawa region. The Greenspace Alliance of Canada’s Capital is a coalition of groups and individuals dedicated to the protection of greenspace that is deemed significant by a community. The Coalition for a Healthy Ottawa is a coalition of individuals, health care professionals, scientists, and health and environmental organisations working to ban the cosmetic use of pesticides in Ottawa. NOVEMBER 2006 The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR Page 35 Elizabeth Gault, Messiah Soloist S oprano Elizabeth Gault is thrilled to be returning to St. Matthew’s Church in the Glebe as a soloist in this year’s production of Handel’s Messiah. The concert will be performed on Sunday, November 26 and Monday, November 27 at 7.30 pm. Ms. Gault started singing in the church’s women and girls choir when it was formed in 1990. The 24-year old artist is the first professional female singer to graduate from the church’s choral program. “Oratorio was my main interest at the beginning,” she says. “When St. Matthew’s started putting on productions of the Messiah, I thought it was incredible for anyone to sing all those solos.” St. Matthew’s has been a very important learning environment for her, she says. “All my major music moments happened there.” She recalls her stage fright when she sang her first solo in church. But that is long past. She Elizabeth Gault Photo by Draven Darkke, Darkke Studios was also a soloist in the Messiah directed by the late Christopher Argent at St. Matthew’s in 2003. By Margret Brady Nankivell Born in Durham, England, Ms. Gault recently graduated from the University of Ottawa’s music program where she sang in her first opera. Her role as Adele in Strauss’s Die Fledermaus was pivotal for her. Adele’s gregarious character was different from her own personality, she recalls. “I was shy and nervous and Adele was outgoing,” she says. “But I warmed up to the role and never looked back.” In December, Ms. Gault will also appear as the lead in Barab’s Little Red Riding Hood with the Opera Lyra Ottawa’s Young Artists at the National Arts Centre’s 4 Stage theatre. She is studying in Toronto with Monica Whicher, a soprano who has sung with major Canadian opera companies and orchestras and performed in many international chamber festivals. Ms. Gault began singing in choirs when she was six and was influenced by her older brother, who was a treble soloist at St Matthew’s, as well as by her mother Helen, who still sings in the choir. Her role models are the versatile British oratorio and cantata soloist Emma Kirkby and Ottawa soprano Shannon Mercer who recently appeared in the Canadian Opera Company’s production of Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte. This year’s Messiah, with full orchestra, will be directed by St.Matthew’s music director Stephen Candow. It will also feature Christine Stelmacovich as alto, Dillon Parmer as tenor and Lyndon Slewidge as bass. Tickets ($15 - $30) are available at the church office at 217 First Ave., as well as at Compact Music’s two Bank St. stores and at CD Warehouse stores in the city. Just Voices Sing for Justice By Bridget Grounds O ttawa South residents who enjoy singing in the shower, or anywhere else for that matter, might be interested to know that there is a choir based in central Ottawa that is open to all singers. “Just Voices” is a group of people who sing together about issues that matter to them - peace, social justice and the environment - issues that all come down to Justice, in the broadest sense. Ottawa South resident Rodney Norman says he enjoys singing and was interested in learning to sing harmony, while singing fun songs - so he joined Just Voices. “I was looking to join a choir, but didn’t want to get in to anything like oratorios. It’s good to sing with others and hear how your voice can become part of something much richer”. Director of Just Voices, Greg Furlong joined together with some like minded friends to start the choir in 2003. “Although we’re a choir, we’re not preachy, and we’re not a performing museum. We see the perfect performance as one where everyone, audience included, is energised and inspired.” And Just Voices have had plenty of opportunities to perform, as they make themselves available to sing for relevant causes. This has taken them to all sorts of venues, from street rallies to supporting fundraising events, even to a gig at The Black Singing in front of City Hall for Car Free Day and Choir Director Greg Furlong wearing his bike helmet Sheep Inn. “A lot of what we’re about is getting out there and supporting the causes we believe in”, says Greg. “We’re not aiming to be the best choir in Ottawa but together we can make some fine music and contribute to raising awareness of Justice issues. We’re always open to invitations to sing in support of relevant issues”. So, if you’re interested in adding your singing voice to this group, or would like more information contact Greg Furlong at 613-237-3281 or check out their website www. justvoices.ca Page 36 The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR NOVEMBER 2006 Handel and his Messiah – The Myths and the Truths By Mary Belotti With photos by Catherine Culley I n Handel’s own lifetime he passed from being an individual to an institution. Much myth was generated by the over-enthusiasm of nineteenth century Handelians, overshadowing attempts at more studied biography,which may have led us closer to understanding him. Impressions of the man, his speech, anecdotes and fictions proliferated and became absorbed into the Myth of Handel. His generosity in life is reflected authentically in his annual concerts for the Foundling Hospital. Between the Man and the Myth there was a growing rift. One of the basic misconceptions stems from Handel’s own apparent unconsciousness of public feeling. Domineering, tactless, this burly stranger from Saxony simply erupted into English society, hugely successful with his Italian operas and Young Handel sneaking to the attic to play music Need Renovations? Custom Designed Additions and Major Renovations that respect the Craftsmanship and Architectural style of your older home. 594-8888 www.gordonmcgovern.com making a considerable amount of money as well as a few enemies. For a man so much in the public eye as composer, impresario and a colourful figure in a colourful period, Handel went out of his way to keep his public life divorced from his private life. The first biography of a musician was written about Handel after his death by the Reverend John Mainwaring, who had never actually met him. But, Sir John Hawkins, a British writer on music who knew Handel says that “his general look was somewhat heavy and sour; but when he did smile, it was his sire the sun bursting out of a black cloud…He was impetuous, rough and peremptory in his manners and conversation, but totally devoid of ill-nature or malevolence.” Johann Mattheson, a composer who had been close to Handel in Hamburg, attests to Handel’s wry sense of humour. Handel “behaved as if he could not count to five…He had a dry way of making the most serious people laugh, without laughing himself.” During the blindness of his latter years, his surgeon, Samuel Sharp suggested that John Stanley, a famous blind organist participate in one of the Handel concerts. Supposedly roaring with laughter, Handel said, “Mr Sharp, have you never read the Scriptures? Do you remember - if the blind lead the blind, they both fall into the ditch?” Georg Frideric Handel was born in Halle on February 23rd, 1685 and as a child was forbidden to ‘meddle’ with any instrument as his father felt this would distract him from the path he had planned for him, to study civil law. Young Handel, however, found the means to get a small clavichord installed in a room at the top of the house, to where he would steal while the family was asleep and in this rather unusual way, managed to make considerable progress in his study of music. In spite of his father’s continued attempts to put an end to his son’s interest in music, some of Mr Handel’s friends and associates said that from all accounts “nothing but cutting off his fingers could prevent his playing”. When at the court of the Duke of Saxe-Weisenfels visiting his brother who worked as a valet, the Duke heard him playing the organ after the service and was so very moved that he told his physician it would be considered a “sort of crime against the public and posterity to rob the world of such rising Genius”. Could it be partly thanks to this little-known Duke that we are now able to glory in Handel’s work? Because the Duke took it upon himself to persuade Handel’s father to allow him to pursue this course in life and Handel was duly sent to study with Friedrich Zachow, organist at the Lutheran church in Halle. After a sojourn in Italy, ‘Il Sassone’ went to Hanover in 1710 as court musician to the Elector of Hanover who eventually succeeded Queen Anne as monarch of England. Handel thereupon established himself in England and began a long series of operas. Opera-going in Handel’s day was not the sedate experience it is today. People went to be seen and at performances would play cards, chat, move around, eat, spit, hiss and yowl at a singer they did not like. The singers themselves would go out of character, talking to one another when they were not singing and greeting friends in the boxes. By the late 1720s, the craze in Italian opera began to wear off and this, together with the crippling costs NOVEMBER 2006 The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR for the libretto and cleverly displays the divine scheme – a coherent progress from Prophecy, through Nativity, Crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascension to the promise of Redemption. The work thus encompasses all the major festivals of the Christian Year. Handel himself Georg Frideric Handel of putting on elaborate performances forced Handel to turn to something else - the oratorio - which he developed to its greatest height. The oratorio finds its origins in the cantata; both use words and music to tell a story, usually from the Old and New Testaments. Whilst the cantata was generally a piece for solo voice and accompaniment – either keyboard, strings or small orchestra depending upon the budget, the oratorio developed using full choir and orchestra with soloists. Of all the oratorios, Messiah is, of course, by far the most popular. Handel wrote it in 1741 and stories about its composition are part of the mythology: how he locked himself into his London apartment and composed the work in twenty-four days; how he was guided by the hand of the Lord; how the manuscript, written in a fury of inspiration, is bedewed with tears; how Handel ignored food, sleep in order to get his music on paper for the Dublin performance. The authenticity of all this is, however, doubtful as Messiah did not receive its world premiere until April of the following year. Messiah is the only truly ‘sacred’ oratorio he ever wrote and the only one performed in his lifetime in a consecrated building. Charles Jennens, a wealthy patron of the arts and poet, adapted the Bible text associated performances with Easter, but modern usage often prefers Christmas. The first performance of Messiah took place in Dublin on April 13th, 1742. En route through England, he passed through Chester where he was held up for a few days because of the unfavourable weather for the crossing. Wishing to continue his work on Messiah, he asked a Mr Baker, the local organist to find him a ‘choirman’ who could sing at sight. A printer by the name of Janson who had a good ‘base’ voice and one of the best musicians in the choir duly turned up for the rehearsal at the Grand Falcon where Handel was staying. After repeated failed attempts to read ‘And with his stripes we are healed’, Handel ‘let loose his great bear upon him and after swearing in four languages, cried in broken English: “You shcauntrel! Tit you not dell me dat you could sing at soite?” to which the printer replied, “Yes, sir, and so I can; but not at first sight.” At this time Dublin was in its ‘golden age’, the second city of the British Isles and a centre of the arts and Handel was greatly welcomed. Messiah was a resounding hit from its first performance and the audience numbered 700 in a hall planned for 600. One of the tenacious myths in music is that there exists for all Page 37 important works an authentic version, usually in the form of an original manuscript or a rewritten score reflecting the composer’s final thoughts on the subject. Handel certainly did not do this, and a no more confusing example of the amorphous nature of a masterpiece can be found than his Messiah. Handel rarely performed Messiah in the same way twice, adding or dropping numbers, recomposing arias and choruses, changing tempos and keys to accommodate different soloists. In the original versions, however, all the choral parts were sung by male singers, with boy choristers singing the soprano parts and male altos or counter-tenors singing the alto parts. So it could be argued that whilst there is not, and can never be, an ‘authentic’ Messiah, the use of allmale voice choir may be as close as we can get to the performances the public of the time were to hear. After a performance of Messiah for a Commemoration of Handel in Westminster Abbey in 1784, the following was recorded in Miss Mary Hamilton’s diary: ‘I was so delighted that I thought myself in the heavenly regions. 513 Performers, the Harmony so unbroken that it was like the fall of Waters from one source, imperceptibly blended. The Spectacle too was sublime, So universal a silence, So great a number of People. Bibliography: ‘Handel’ by Christopher Hogwood ‘The Lives of the Great Composers’ by Harold C. Schonberg Traditional Messiah November 26 Personal Financial Planning We will review your current financial position and recommend a plan that is designed to achieve your goals. Rick Sutherland, CLU, CFP, FDS, R.F.P 1276 Wellington Street Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 3A7 T rue to the tradition of the all-male voice version of this oratorio, the Christ Church Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys is to perform Messiah under the direction of Organist and Director of Music, Matthew Larkinwith full orchestra at the Cathedral on 26 November at 3pm. Tickets may be obtained from the Cathedral Arts Box Office in the Lower Lobby area of Christ Church Cathedral; 420 Sparks Street. Tel 613 567 1787. For more details: www.ottawa.anglican.ca/cathedral Tel 613.798.2421 rick@invested-interest.ca www.invested-interest.ca Page 38 The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR NOVEMBER 2006 November Recipes from the Red Apron W ith winter looming we are all in the mood for rich, hearty soups and stews. There is nothing like a bowl of steaming goodness, and some fresh bread to get us ready to face the next six months of cold weather. When we made this mushroom salad at the Red Apron, we used fresh Oyster Mushrooms sourced from Champignon Le Coprin based in Farrellton, Québec. Christophe offers a variety of mushrooms grown and picked locally in the Boreal Forest of Northern Québec. His cultivated mushrooms are certified organic and can often be purchased at Byward Fruit and Vegetables. Mushrooms are quite nutritious - in addition to providing good quantities of minerals and vitamins, they help regulate blood cholesterol, boost the immune system and have cancer fighting properties. They are also a good source of protein - 15 - 30% of their dry mass. Visit www.lecoprin.ca for more information. The three recipes we have chosen for November will go nicely together as a meal, however when Jo-Ann and I came up with the Ratatouille Strudel dish at the Red Apron, and served it to our families we were overwhelmed by the response. All of our kids thought this was the best thing they “had ever eaten” and it was so full of wonderful fall vegetables that we were happy to have them eat a second piece. It makes a great vegetarian entrée or an after school snack. We were so pleased with the versatility of this dish that we decided to make it available as our first “Frozen Red Apron Family Dinner”. Our Frozen Family Meals Selection is listed in our E-Mail Newsletter, which also includes our Weekly Dinner Club menu. Email us at redapron@rogers. com and we will add you to our email list! Remember that as Christmas approaches, the Red Apron Dinners can be ordered for dinner parties of up to 40 people. If you are planning your Christmas Event, give us a call (613-321-0417) or visit our website at www.redapron.ca. We will also be introducing a couple of Christmas “Specials”, but more about that in December…. Get back to the table! Wine Braised Lamb We cook Lamb about once a month at the Red Apron, and usually use the shank because we like to cook meet on the bone – it makes for better flavour and a much better sauce. However, you can also use cubed Lamb Shoulder for this recipe. 1 large onion, sliced 4 cloves of garlic - chopped 1 tablespoon tomato paste 2 cups beef broth 2 cups of full bodied red wine 2-3 sprigs each of Rosemary and Thyme – rough chopped 4 Lamb Shanks (or 2-3 pounds of cubed Lamb Shoulder) Salt & Pepper to Taste Mix the first 6 ingredients in large bowl. Place the lamb in a deep covered dish and pour marinade over the lamb. Let sit for at least 2 hours, or overnight in the fridge. When you are ready to start cooking, remove the lamb from the marinade (reserve marinade), and heat 2 tablespoons of oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add lamb to skillet and cook until browned on all sides, turning occasionally and adding 2 more tablespoons oil to skillet between batches. Return the lamb and reserved marinade to the covered dish and place in a 300 degree pre-heated oven. Cook covered for 3-4 hours (stirring every hour) until very tender. If using shanks, the meat should easily fall pull away from the bones. Remove cooked lamb from sauce and strain the sauce through a fine sieve into a small saucepan. Let the sauce sit for a few minutes and scoop off the excess oil. Boil the sauce until reduced by at least half and season with salt and pepper to taste. Return lamb meat to the sauce, and re-warm to serve. The Lamb can be served immediately or re-heated at a later time as it always tastes better the next day! Serves 4 cont’d on page 39 Domestic Contracts ( A.K.A. Pre-Nuptial Agreements) By Anna Sundin O nce married, spouses residing in Ontario are entitled by law to share the property accumulated during the relationship. This is the case whether the relationship ends by separation, divorce or the death of one of the spouses. The Ontario Family Law Act provides a scheme for sharing this accumulated property between spouses once the relationship ends. The Ontario Family Law Act also allows those who are married or those who want to get married to opt out of the legislated scheme for the sharing of property. In order to do so, the spouses must have a written agreement, called a domestic contract. A domestic contract can also address other issues of importance to the couple such as the sharing of household expenses and spousal support. Some couples have even contracted with each other about who is responsible for which household tasks, although this kind of contract is Anna E. Sundin, Barrister & Solicitor difficult to enforce. GEnErAl PrActicE includinG: Family Law, Wills, Real Estate, Incorporations, Litigation and Collaborative Family Law As a domestic contract – A Cooperative and Dignified Approach to Separation and Divorce.– is legally binding on the parties who sign it, it will be upheld by a court of law. Therefore, when negotiating the terms of a domestic contract it is critical to consider the circumstances and views of the couple, as a domestic contract is not “one size fits all”. Guidance, Protection and Peace of Mind. Some of the important questions to ask are: Should the division of property be the same upon separation as upon the death of one of the spouses? Does the arrival of children change how the spouses view their contribution to the relationship? Have either of them been married before? Does one or both parties have obligations to dependent children? If one party is substantially wealthier or has greater income and can make a greater financial contribution to the property accumulated during the relationship, should this affect the property division after the relationship ends? What happens if one of the spouses is sick or disabled or becomes sick or disabled during the marriage? Has one spouse received an inheritance or a substantial gift? Is either spouse involved in a family business ? Is either spouse self-employed? It might be surprising to realize that a domestic contract can have an effect on property division after the death of one of the spouses. Therefore, if after signing a domestic contract the spouses change their minds on how they want to divide their property it becomes urgent to put this changed intention in writing. Otherwise, if one of the spouses dies before this is done, the survivor might have to live by the terms of the old agreement instead of the new one the spouses wanted to make. Even when spouses are making wills it is important to consider the effect of the Family Law Act. Even if the spouses are in agreement that they should each get less than they are entitled to under the legislation after the death of the other spouse, this can only be legally binding on the survivor if the spouses have negotiated and signed a domestic contract specifically opting out of the legislation that governs the division of property between spouses when the relationship ends. NOVEMBER 2006 The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR Page 39 Red Apron from page 38 Ratatouille Strudel 2 medium tomatoes diced 2 large garlic cloves, diced ½ cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil 1 medium eggplant, cut into cubes 1 large onion medium diced 1 bell peppers (green, red, or yellow), cut into 1/2-inch pieces 2 medium zucchini quartered lengthwise and cut crosswise into 3/4inch-thick pieces 2 cups of shredded mozzarella 1 or 2 puff pastry sheets thawed (depending on size – ours are 10x15) 1 egg (for egg wash) Salt and Pepper to taste Cook onions in 1 tablespoon oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened. Transfer onions to a large colander which is placed over a large bowl. Add 1 tablespoon oil to skillet and cook bell peppers until softened. Transfer the peppers to the colander with the onions. Continue this process with the eggplant and the zucchini. Finish with the tomatoes and transfer to the colander. Let the vegetables drain while they cool. When the vegetables are cool, transfer to a large bowl and add salt and pepper to taste, and mix in the mozzarella. Lay out your puff pastry sheet on a sheet of parchment directly on a baking sheet with the long side facing you. Mound the ratatouille mixture down the middle of the sheet from one end to the other, leaving enough room for the puff pastry to close with a 1 inch overlap. Fold one edge of the puff pastry up and over the mound, and egg wash the other edge. Roll the strudel over so that the puff pastry seam is on the bottom and the edges overlap one inch. If you have enough filling, make a second strudel. Brush the top of the strudel with the remaining egg wash. Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 25-35 minutes, until the puff pastry is golden brown. Let stand for 5-10 minutes before cutting and serve immediately Serves 4-6 people W ith X Box, I Pod and all the other high tech gadgets that our children want, parents often find it hard to say no. These toys are expensive, and if your child is not old enough to be earning money, then it’s mom and dad who pay the bill. Yes, parents have a responsibility to provide the necessities and a few luxuries of life. The luxuries must be within the family budget and carefully given to the child who lives up to the family rules and expectations. By establishing a reward system for good behaviour, quality grades at school and chores around the house, parents and children will have a better understanding of when requests for the “extras” can be justified. Children may come to expect that all they need to do is ask, and mom and dad will hand over the cash. The problem with this scenario is that parents could be setting themselves up for a very long period of dependency. As children move into adulthood the toys don’t get cheaper. You will then be looking at cars, or possibly a down payment on a house. Unless you learn to say no, you could be jeopardizing your own financial future. There is nothing wrong with giving money to your children as long as it is within your financial means. Parents typically expect to coast into their retirement years without Winter Mushrooms from Le Coprin well for this recipe but you can also use oyster mushrooms or winter mushrooms from Le Coprin. Sauté onion and garlic in butter and 1 tbs of olive oil until onions are clear. Add mushrooms and sauté until the mushrooms are golden brown (add more oil if necessary). Season with Salt and Pepper. In a medium sized bowl whisk balsamic, a pinch of salt, freshly ground pepper and remaining olive oil. Add to mushroom mixture in pan and heat through until the vinaigrette is warm. Toss warm Balsamic & Mushroom mixture gently with Organic Greens and serve immediately. Serves 4 *White Button Mushrooms will work Sautéed Mushrooms in warm Balsamic on Organic Greens 1 pound of Mushrooms diced * 1 small onion diced 1 clove of garlic diced ½ cup of good quality olive oil 1 tbs of butter ¼ cup of good quality balsamic Learning to Say “No” by Rick Sutherland vinegar 1 tbs chopped fresh rosemary and thyme 4 handfuls of mixed organic greens Salt and Pepper to taste financial worries, but this may not be the case if their children are constantly at the door asking for money. Parents who cannot say no may have to remortgage their house or take out loans to help their children. Learning how and when to say “no” to your children can be one of the most difficult challenges a parent can face. But unless you develop the discipline early you may be in for a long period of financial support. And this endless generosity may spill over to other family members and charitable organizations. Definitely offer financial support to those who need it, but do not let it jeopardize your own financial plans. So, how can parents prevent this financial dependency? Start by encouraging your children to create a savings strategy to meet their wants. Help them set their own financial goals and show them how these goals can be achieved. Once children learn that they can buy anything they want as long as it is within their financial budget they will have developed an essential skill that will help them toward financial independence. This is a monthly article on financial planning. Call or write to Rick Sutherland CLU, CFP, FDS, R.F.P., of FundEX Investments Inc. with your topics of interest at 798-2421 or Email at rick@invested-interest.ca. Financial Divorce Specialist Avoid costly mistakes with professional financial assistance in the division of assets. Contact: Rick Sutherland, CLU, CFP, FDS, R.F.P. 1276 Wellington Street, Ottawa ON K1Y 3A7 Phone: (613)798-2421 Email: rick@invested-interest.ca Page 40 The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR NOVEMBER 2006 Ten Things Drivers Can Do About Our Dependency On Oil The best thing you as an individual can do to break America’s oil addiction is to dramatically cut back on your driving. Can you walk to the store instead of drive? How about riding your bike? Instead of driving to the office, how about taking mass transit? Unfortunately, in many parts of America such solutions are not feasible. So for those of you who absolutely MUST drive, here are some easy ways to do your part to cut down on your oil use. by Deanna Sclar I f we cut fuel consumption by only 10 percent, we each can save an average of 77 gallons a year! With gasoline selling at unprecedented highs in the midst of a war that seems intimately related to petroleum, many Americans feel angry and helpless about how the diminishing supply of petroleum has affected our policy in the Middle East, our environment, and our pocketbooks. It’s time to stop complaining and take action! Each of us must take responsibility for the burgeoning consumption that is costing lives, ruining our economy, damaging the environment and fomenting international condemnation of Americans as the most wasteful people on Earth. Every one of us has the ability to save gallons of fuel by changing our driving habits and maintaining our vehicles properly. Here are ten ways to personally make an impact on the fuel crisis, global warming, the economy and the world. 1. Don’t warm-up your car in the morning You’re using fuel to go nowhere. Most owners manuals caution you not to indulge in lengthy warmups. They waste fuel, pollute the air, and increase wear on your vehicle. 2. Change the way you drive View your driving techniques in terms of fuel consumption. • Don’t speed. Before hitting the accelerator, be sure that you won’t waste that effort by having to slow to the pace of the car ahead of you, or for a blinker, crossroad, or curve ahead. Remember, every time you step on the brake pedal you cancel the speed you used fuel to achieve! Driving at 50 mph instead of 70 mph can cut fuel consumption by 20 percent! • Start up and accelerate smoothly. A fast getaway may cost you 8 miles per gallon for the first 4 miles. A slow start can carry you 50 percent further on the same amount of fuel. • Don’t try to race the lights. Traffic lights are set for the local speed limit. If you keep to the posted speed limits, the lights will magically turn green as you approach them and you’ll use 15 percent less fuel. • Don’t keep changing lanes. Each time you have to accelerate to pass and then have to step on the brake when you get back into lane, you waste up to 30 percent more fuel. • Decelerate instead of braking. Anticipate slowdowns and halts in traffic so you don’t have to stop short. If you’re not speeding, you may be able to just ease up on the accelerator. Not only will you extend the life of your brakes, you’ll also save fuel. • Slowly accelerate before you get to a hill. The extra momentum will carry you at least part of the way up. • Coast down hills, when traffic will permit. Instead of the gas pedal, use the car’s weight and momentum to get to the bottom. But don’t turn your engine off, you need to keep that oil and water pumping to keep heat and friction from damaging it! • Choose higher gears. If you have a manual transmission, shift up at the lowest speed that won’t cause laboring or lugging. With automatic transmissions, use Overdrive whenever conditions permit and save another 10 percent in fuel. • Make right turns rather than left turns or U-turns. You’ll save fuel by going around the block instead of idling at 0 miles per gallon until traffic clears and then having to overcome inertia to get moving again, or making a U-turn that involves a lot of stopping and starting. 3. Keep Cool, but not Too Cool If it’s not too hot, use the interior vents, sun roof, or vent windows instead of the air conditioner, which can consume an extra 2 .5 miles per gallon. Keep side windows closed. They increase wind resistance and fuel consumption. 4. Fill ‘Er Up Properly Don’t “top it off.” If you park in the sun or drive uphill with an overfilled tank, the fuel you paid for will end up on the ground, where it can dissolve the asphalt, cause a fire and increase air pollution. On hot days, fill up in the early morning or evening, when the air is cooler. An increase of only 30 degrees F. can cause 10 gallons of gas to expand by as much as 4/5ths of a quart (or a bottle of whiskey!) 5. Check Your Tires Underinflated tires wear out faster and cost you about 1 mile per gallon. Air costs nothing, so be sure that your tires have all they need. Tires heat up as you drive and the air inside expands, so to get an accurate reading, always check air in the morning before you drive the car, and head slowly to the air pump if you need more. 6. Change your shopping habits Traveling a mile on a cold engine can increase fuel consumption by as much as 70 percent. Try to combine several short trips into one longer one. Shop locally. Is it really a bargain to buy at a distant superstore when you’ll save time, effort and fuel by sticking closer to home? When possible, use the phone or e-mail to do your business, or ride your bike or the bus. Carpools are not only great fuel-savers, they qualify you to use freeway Diamond lanes and they often result in new friendships as well. 7. Clean Out the Trunk Compartment cont’d on page 41 The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR NOVEMBER 2006 Page 41 Neighbours Remembered Establishment of the Jeff Hume Memorial Fund By Doug Stickley Old Firehall Redevelopment Fund will remember Jeff as the volunteer bar manager, one of the friendly people tending bar at the auctions and lobster dinner parties. Jeff was a true gentleman and will be sorely missed. O ld Ottawa South lost a true and valued friend this past August 13th when Jeffery Randolph Hume passed away at home after a battle with cancer at the age of 55. Jeff was a wonderful person who brought joy and a smile to everyone just by his presence. He was a guy who always went out of his way to help out whenever he could. A long-time employee of Canada Post, Jeff was one of the mainstays of this community, a volunteer extraordinaire. Over the years, he Co-Chaired the Hopewell School Council, was the Treasurer for OSCA, coached Minor Hockey at Brewer Arena and was both the Co-ordinator and a Coach for the Glebe Little League Girls Softball. As well, he acted as the Statistician for the former Ottawa South Fun Run and came out Jeff Hume in the dead of winter on many nights to flood the Windsor Park Ice Rinks. In recognition of his volunteerism, he was honoured as a City of Ottawa Whitton Award recipient in the category of Sports and Recreation. Many people who attended the fundraising socials on behalf of the The Jeff Hume Memorial Fund has been established within the auspices of the Community Foundation of Ottawa (CFO), a registered charity for Income Tax purposes. The interest on monies raised will be used in perpetuity to assist the types of charities that Jeff himself supported in the areas of Education, Sports, Volunteerism, Food Banks and Youth Activities. All the money will stay here in Ottawa. Persons wishing to donate to the memorial fund by credit card can do so at the CFO website at http://www. cfo-fco.ca/ , clicking on “Donate Now through CanadaHelps.org” and selecting the Jeff Hume Memorial Fund under the Fund/Designation menu. Tax receipts will be provided by email. Alternately, you can mail a contribution to: The Jeff Hume Memorial Fund C/O The Community Foundation of Ottawa 75 Albert St, Suite 301 Ottawa, ON. K1P 5E7 As well, contributions can be made through the United Way. Details are provided on the CFO website by clicking on “Become a Donor” and then following the directions in the section entitled “Donate to an existing Fund through the United Way”. Anyone wanting additional information on the fund can contact the Fund Advisor, Doug Stickley, at 613-730-0424 or via email at stickleydj@sympatico.ca. Tragic Loss for OOS and Georgetown By Julian Hall M ichael George, owner of the Georgetown Sports Pub on Bank Street, died in a tragic car accident early Sunday, October 15, 2006. Mike lived life to the full in his 26 years. He spent his childhood partly in Australia, and worked in film, art and hospitality in Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver. He really began living his dream 2 years ago while creating what became the Georgetown. Michael George Ten Things ... from page 40 Every 500 pounds you haul around costs you from 2 to 5 miles per gallon. That’s a lot to pay for “extra storage.” 8. Check Under the Hood • A dirty air filter can cost a mile per gallon at 50 mph. • If your PCV valve is not functioning properly, you’re running your engine less efficiently, and you may be burning and polluting your oil, too. • If your spark plugs are misfiring, it can cost you up to 25 percent in gas mileage. • If your ignition system is overdue for a tune-up, do it now! A tune-up can reduce carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon exhaust emissions by 30 to 50 percent. It will also save you fuel and improve your vehicle’s performance. • If the accessory belts that connect your fan, water pump, alternator, and a variety of other devices are too loose or too tight, a serious loss of efficiency can be the result. A belt should have about half an inch of “give” and should not be frayed or badly worn. • If a brake is poorly adjusted, it may “drag” while the vehicle is in motion. Moving the wheel against the dragging brake takes more power, and the result is that your brake linings — and the gas in your tank — won’t last as long. To check for dragging brakes, jack up each wheel and spin it. If a brake shoe or brake pad is dragging, you can feel it as you try to turn the wheel on the hub. If you hear a rumbling sound, your wheel bearings may be worn and may need to be replaced. 9. Keep Your Car Waxed A highly waxed car not only preserves the paint job, it cuts wind resistance dramatically. 10. Buy A Hybrid Instead of pouring money—and fuel—into your old clonker, buy yourself a hybrid vehicle that can get close to 60 mpg. By cutting fuel consumption by 30% or more, you’ll be making a real impact on the environment, the economy and the world situation! Deanna Sclar is the author of Auto Repair for Dummies. In his short time in Old Ottawa South Mike established an awesome pub and sports bar. He made many friends and touched many lives. He knew his customers by name and always made a point of chatting to them and making them feel welcome. His customers will truly miss him. Our prayers and thoughts are with the George family at this time. Mike’s dream of owning a first class sports bar will be continued by his sister Damera. We wish her all the very best. OSCAR is honoured to publish remembrances of friends and neighbours of Old Ottawa South. Send photos and text to oscar@oldottawasouth.ca DENYS BUILDS DESIGNS T PAUL DENYS Renovator 54 MASON TERRACE OTTAWA, ON K1S 0K9 613 � 236 � 6516 DENYS.CA Page 42 The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR NOVEMBER 2006 Pulente’s Cafè & Delli - Authentic Italian With a Smile panini sandwiches. Pasta dinners featuring Spaghetti, Penni, Gnocchi or their trademark Lasagna are available for enjoying in, or take out. Pulente’s uses only fresh, top quality deli meats, cheeses, and toppings for their deli sandwiches, which are made fresh to order and can be customized to your liking. They also prepare a number of Vegetarian meals. For years family and friends have encouraged the cousins to open a restaurant so that others can enjoy the same delicious meals that were prepared for them. Stop in to Pulente’s Café & Deli and try the best that authentic Italian has to offer. The prices are more than reasonable and Jimmy offers great service with a smile. Just ask to try a meatball and we’re sure you’ll be back! Pulente is open Monday to Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sundays 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. and you can them at 613-321-2868. Editor’s Note: I also enjoyed the photos and other memorabilia. Johnny Pulente ready to serve you F or years, cousins John and Jimmy Pulente have been surrounded with family traditions and only the best of authentic Italian cooking. Meals and recipes that originated from Naples Italy and passed through the generations, have now been brought to Ottawa. These classic Italian meals, made to order from scratch, can be enjoyed at Pulente’s Café & Deli on the corner of Sunnyside and Seneca. Cousins John and Jimmy, who spent many years working at restaurants and cooking in family kitchens, believe that reasonable prices and authentic home-made recipes are what bring family and friends together. Pulente’s tomato sauce and meatballs are made daily using only the finest of ingredients and Nonna Vecchia’s recipes. Their meatball sandwich is fast becoming the talk of Ottawa, and is second to none. Pulente’s specialties such as veal, chicken, and eggplant parmesan can be enjoyed as entrees or as classic Rowland Leather Expanding In The National Capital Region Shannon Dorion, manager of Rowland Leather – familiar face from Barley Mow W ith 32 years in the fine quality leather goods business, Rowland Leather is opening a third retail store in the National Capital Region at 1095 Bank Street, Ottawa. Designer and president, Michael Rowland, is proudly swimming against the outsourcing tide. He has expanded his successful line of high-end leather purses, backpacks and briefcases, which he designs and manufactures in his Kemptville, Ontario studio, with a staff of six craftspeople. “It’s not easy, but we’ve got a niche” says Rowland. “Our leather bags stand well among the world’s finest and our clients value our designs and “Made in Canada” philosophy” he added. Many of his designs have been compared to big labels on style and quality. Rowland began the business in the 1970s, retailing his goods at craft shows. As a founding member of the Merrickville Artists’ Guild, Rowland opened a retail outlet in Merrickville, Ontario in 1989 and helped turn the town’s fortunes around. Today, Merrickville is one of Eastern Ontario’s most popular centers for artisans and a successful tourist destination. In 2002, Rowland expanded in Kemptville, renovating a large 1847 heritage building to increase his manufacturing capability and offer his clients a second retail outlet. His work and contribution led to a heritage award. With the addition of the Bank Street store, Rowland Leather’ workforce has increased to 14 employees. “We’ve built a solid base of customers because we’ve got a quality product that’s different from anything else in the market. Customers in Ottawa can now enjoy our variety of leather goods, from classic lines to the more innovative design.” NOVEMBER 2006 The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR Page 43 Margaret’s Table - Easy Cooking & Inspiring Entertaining F ollowing the success of her first, international award winning cookbook,”From the Ambassador’s Table - Blueprints for Creative Entertaining”, and her TV series, “Margaret’s Sense of Occasion”, many have asked Margaret Dickenson to produce a second book. Working with her husband, Larry Dickenson, she has just released “Margaret’s Table - Easy Cooking & Inspiring Entertaining”(ISBN: 0- 9739874-0-5). This cookbook reveals Margaret’s “real” secrets, accumulated over years abroad and at home, of how to mesmerize family and guests even when time and/or talent in the kitchen is limited – but, aspirations for success are high! Of course, Margaret has a strategy! – Innovative, unique, tasty recipes, interesting presentations, a touch of pizzazz and dozens of tricks to make the process doable and enjoyable. Beautifully photographed, Margaret’s Table presents 180 of her personally created recipes with clear step-by-step instructions. There are 25 practical and creative menus which draw entirely upon recipes in the book. In addition, Margaret offers hundreds of invaluable tips (e.g., make ahead, storage, presentation, serving, alternative ingredients, alternative cooking instructions, accompaniments for main course, etc.) A mischevious “rabbit” icon is repeated throughout the book, stopping under the titles of about 60 % of the recipes to conveniently designate them as “No Time/No Talent”. Similarly, a barbecue/grill icon marks those recipes which could be barbecued/ grilled. Five (5) recipes are recognized as having won international culinary awards during the last 12 months. Hidden in the pages of this book, is how Margaret and her husband, Larry, a former Canadian Ambassador, have “swapped” roles. Margaret for years, like many a foreign service spouse, traveled the world with Larry, hosting thousands of guests in their homes in 8 different countries. She developed a strong international reputation for her personally created recipes, mesmerizing presentations and warm hospitality. Now, Larry, retired, is returning the favour to help in her career. He calls it “delayed reciprocity – I work like mad and don’t get paid”! As Margaret’s “Production Assistant”, he imputed into the computer every word in this new book and took 57 of the 58 photos which grace its pages. For more information, contact: Margaret’s Sense of Occasion, 2 Seneca Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 4W5 or mldickenson@rogers.com . The book’s “launch” a few weeks ago, was a great success.. About 170 attended; among them were many friends, chefs (including the Executive Chef of the Parliamentary Restaurant), Ambassadors and their spouses, print, radio and TV press. The store was thrilled to have sold 116 books in the two hour period. The line ups were long to get the books autographed and dedicated. Margaret’s food, all based upon recipes in the book, was a big hit. Marg is frenetically busy. For example, on a Friday, she was at Le Cordon Bleu cooking school judging students’ achievements. Sat, she had two book signings. She is getting fabulous press and more has been requested without prompting (e.g., a spot on CBC’s popular national prime-time radio show “Sounds Like Canada” with Shelagh Rogers which reaches millions). Is Your financial Plan Ready for 2007? By Bob Jamieson G et a head start on your 2007 financial plan. Instead of waiting for the New Year, put your finances and investments in order today. This way you’ll be well positioned to take advantage of what the coming year has to offer. The best way to prepare for 2007 is to conduct a thorough review of your financial life now. Unless you know where you are today, you won’t be able to map out a strategy for tomorrow. Make sure that your goals and objectives remain viable and realistic, that your spending, savings and borrowing are under control, that investments are performing according to your needs and expectations, and that you have a well diversified portfolio suitable for the current investment climate. Your goals are important. They should be well-defined and in line with your current situation. It’s especially important to revisit your financial objectives if you’ve recently experienced major developments in your life, such as marriage or divorce, the birth of a child, or retirement. Investment performance is also critical. If your investment returns aren’t meeting your goals, it may be the time to make changes in your portfolio. If your portfolio isn’t diversified, with all major asset classes represented, this can call for adjustments. When examining your asset allocation, consider its impact on your after-tax returns. You may be able to reduce taxes by carefully allocating investments inside and outside registered plans such as your Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP). For example, interestgenerating investments are excellent for an RRSP, where interest that would otherwise be fully taxable can be taxdeferred. Although they can play an important role in your registered plan, equity investments are generally better suited for non-registered investments because they’re already eligible for capital gains and dividend tax breaks. Of course, you need to invest every year to keep your portfolio growing. Examine your income and spending to see how you can divert more to investments in 2007. Use a household budget to identify expenses that can be cut. Reducing debt is another great way to funnel more into savings and investments. Plan now to pay down or eliminate debt in 2007-consider increasing mortgage payments or paying off consumer loans or credit card debt. There are some financial moves you can make today, instead of waiting until the New Year. One of the most important is an early RRSP contribution. Although you have until March 1, 2007, to make your 2006 contribution, the sooner you get your money into the plan the longer it has to grow. Plus, you’ll avoid lineups and last-minute decision-making in the RRSP rush. Once this year’s contribution is out of the way, work on a plan to get your full 2007 contribution into your RRSP as early in the New Year as possible. If you can’t make a large lump sum contribution early in the year, set up a periodic plan that allows you to contribute monthly. If you have unused contribution room from the past, formulate a plan to make up for those missed contributions in 2007. You’ll boost retirement savings and reduce next year’s tax bill. There may be more you can do today to get ready for 2007. It’s a good idea to meet with your investment representative. With professional help, you’ll ensure your finances and investments are on track. Bob Jamieson, CFP, your Edward Jones investment representative. Member CIPF Page 44 The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR NOVEMBER 2006 Danny Michel to Rock November’s Underground Sound By Leslie Fulton D Danny Michel ubbed a cross between Tom Waits and Cheap Trick, Ottawa Bluesfest favourite Danny Michel will perform at Underground Sound on Wednesday, November 29th at the Glebe Community Centre. Michel’s songs run from sweet pop with an edge to darker tales, covering a wide variety of emotions and influences. A charmer on stage, he is fearless and full of surprises. You never know what you’ll get when you attend one of his concerts – he has been known to play a chime solo on a cell phone. Everything and anything is up for grabs, and Michel’s quick wit and imagination keeps music lovers on their toes. “I don’t want to be confined to one style anymore. I want to fly by the seat of my pants,” he said. “I want to put on a show!” Nominated for a Juno Award for Best New Artist in 2005, Michel has six albums under his belt and has worked with countless Canadian and international artists. He has played guitar for a wide variety of groups – from electronicapop band Dragonette to Canadian folkie Sarah Harmer. David Bowie has given his Rock God nod of approval to Michel – his guitarist Earl Slick has asked him to work on songs that feature guest vocals by Bowie himself and Robert Smith of the Cure, after hearing his 2004 Bowie homage “Loving the Alien”. Bowie’s influential website promoted Michel’s 2006 tour in the United Kingdom. Tickets for the concert are $20 each ($25 at the door) and are available at Compact Music, the Glebe Community Centre (GCC), the Ottawa Folklore Centre and at www. theglebeonline.com. Doors open at 7 p.m. with a concert start of 7:30. The Glebe Community Association (GCA) and the Glebe Business Group host Underground Sound, a series of concerts run by volunteers to raise money to bury the hydro wires when Bank Street undergoes reconstruction. More than $30,000 has been raised so far, with significant contributions by corporate sponsors ScotiaBank, Loeb Glebe, Capital Home Hardware, Glebe Pharmasave Apothecary, Compact Music and Keller Williams Ottawa Realty. If the City of Ottawa decides not to bury the lines, the money will be spent on other improvement projects to make Bank Street beautiful. Christmas Hamper Help Needed! By Leslie Fulton D uring the holidays, our thoughts often turn to those less fortunate than ourselves. For more than 30 years, the Christmas Hamper Project has supplied thousands of Ottawa families and individuals with boxes of food, toiletries and small gifts to help make their Christmas season a little brighter. Sponsored by the McLeod-Stewarton United Church, Southminster and Glebe-St. James, hampers are delivered to 160 needy families and individuals that have been referred by Centre 507, the Emergency Food Centre, The Well, Salus and The Laundry Co-op. This worthy project relies on the generosity and the goodwill of the community. How can you help? There are many ways: Adopt a hamper: Email Christine Hywarren at christine.hywarren@sympatico.ca by November 30th, or, if you don’t have access to email, call Ann Hyland at 234-6084. Pack hampers: Contact Ann Hyland at 2346084 if you can help wrap gifts and pack the hampers between December 13th and the 20th. Deliver hampers: Call Susan Ballantyne at 567-2978 if you can drive or deliver hampers on December 21st. Donate: Have a crazy schedule? We accept donations. Please send a cheque made out to the “Christmas Hamper Project” and mail it to the McLeod-Stewarton United Church, 507 Bank Street, K2P 1Z5. Every little bit helps! NOVEMBER 2006 The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR Page 45 Buy Tickets Early for Come Sing Messiah! December 1 By Alison Lawson A void disappointment and buy your tickets early for CAMMAC’s (Canadian Amateur Musicians’) COME SING MESSIAH! which will take place on Friday, December 1st at Dominion Chalmers United Church, O’Connor at Cooper. Join the 1000 singers and listeners who attend Ottawa’s favourite participatory version of Handel’s Messiah. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with the rehearsal at 6 p.m. and performance at 8 p.m., under the baton of Louis Lavigueur. Singers should bring their own music. Tickets are available starting November 11th at these four locations: Book Bazaar, 417 Bank at Frank; Granata Music, 1558 Merivale Road near Meadowlands; The Leading Note, 370 Elgin Street near Gladstone; and Collected Works, 1242 Wellington near Holland. Prices are $8 for singers and $13 for audience members. Optional choral rehearsals will be held Nov. 11, 18 and 25 at Parkdale United Church, 429 Parkdale at Gladstone, 10-12.15, with Alan Thomas: CAMMAC members $5 each or $10 for all three, non-members $10 each or $20 for all three. Tickets will be on sale at these rehearsals. Information: www.cammac.ca or phone 613-237-3154 Computer Tricks and Tips: Buying Digital Cameras By Malcolm and John Harding, of Compu-Home S ales of digital cameras outpaced their film camera cousins for the first time in 2005, but sales have flattened off in recent months, resulting in some bargain prices. Here are some considerations if you are thinking about a digital camera – perhaps as a Christmas or January Sale purchase. • The resolution (fine detail capability) of digital cameras is measured in megapixels. Manufacturers trumpet the newest, largest megapixel capacity as something you absolutely must have, but the fact is that for most purposes a lower resolution is quite adequate. For example: computer monitors are not capable of displaying more than a fairly coarse resolution and so if you are simply going to be viewing your photos on your computer, most of the capability of your highresolution camera is wasted. For most general-purpose photography a 3.0 – 5.0 megapixel camera, at well under $500.00 will do the job. If yours is one of the higher-end cameras you can safely set it to a lower resolution and you usually won’t see the difference. This will also mean that each photo is a smaller file, and that will make it easier to email to a friend, or save on your hard disk. An exception to this occurs when you know in advance that you are going to want to print this batch of photos, on a high quality printer. This is a time when higher resolution will result in a superior print. • Optical zoom vs. digital zoom is another area where you can easily be misled. Optical zoom is the actual moving of the lens to bring the subject closer. Digital zoom is a far less effective process, in which the camera attempts to magnify the subject electronically, often with a hopeless loss of clarity. Digital cameras offer both types of zoom, but the optical zoom capability is much more important of the two. • Batteries are an important consideration in a digital camera. Most cameras can use their own rechargeable battery, but some also accept offthe-shelf AAs or AAAs. This can be expensive because digital cameras are huge battery hogs but it can save the day if your battery dies in the middle of the wedding. A spare rechargeable battery for your camera is usually in the $30.00 - $50.00 range, and is well worth the investment. Some camera models feature an external battery recharger, which allows you to recharge one battery while using another. • A digital camera is one of the few devices for which we at Compu-Home recommend an extended warranty, from the store or the manufacturer. Repairs are hideously expensive, and it is not uncommon to have to throw away a relatively new machine, because repairs would cost more than the original purchase price. • In the end, the most important peripheral device for your digital camera is its instruction manual. Most cameras have so many features and settings that you cannot possibly remember everything from one photo session to the next. Read and re-read it, underline the important points, and keep it in your camera bag … your digital photos will clearly display the difference. Malcolm and John Harding are the owners of Compu-Home, specializing in assisting home and small business computer users. Visit www.compu-home.com and go to Suggested Websites for more information related to this article. Write to harding@compu-home. com or phone 731-5954 to discuss computer issues, or to suggest subjects to be addressed in future columns. COMING IN NOVEMBER NOVEMBER 7 Break-up Artist Cars Little Man Shadowboxer Tales of the Rat Fink NOVEMBER 14 Accepted Ant Bully Rom Fami Com Actio Doc Com Fami NOVEMBER 21 A Family Secret Dram Inconvenient Truth Doc Another Gay Movie Com Blood Stains Thril Boston Legal TV se Dark Harvest 3 Scarecrow Hor Ice Age: Meltdown Fam Last Trapper Doc Little Athens Thril Scoop Dram Shinobi Act NOVEMBER 14 Davinci Code John Tucker Must Die Leonard Cohen: I’m Your M Merry Christmas Sophie Scholl Strangers With Candy Who Killed the Electric Car Wordplay Act Com Doc Dra Dra Com Doc Doc NOVEMBER 28 Chasing Christmas Clerks II See No Evil Superman Returns Warriors of Terra Com Com Hor Act Hor NOVEMBER 21 You, Me & Dupree Com 1123 Bank Street -- (613) 730-1256 The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR Page 46 NOVEMBER 2006 Around Town Ferme Aux Pleines Saveurs organic market that could be found each Thursday afternoon between 4 and 6 pm in the parking lot of Sunnyside and Bank ended at Hallowe’en. Exhibition and sale. Ottawa Valley Weaver’s and Spinners Guild. Purchase elegant and wearable jackets, ponchos, and scarves, charming decorator baskets, tapestry art, silk display, demonstrations of weaving and spinning. Glebe Community Centre, 175 Third Ave, Ottawa. Friday Nov. 3 4-8 pm., Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 4-5, 10 am-4 pm. Admission free. www.ovwsg.com. Parkdale United Church, corner of Parkdale and Gladstone, will be hosting its traditional Christmas Bazaar the first Saturday in November. There will be several silent auction items, crafts, baked goods and gently used items for sale, plus a special children’s section where only the young and the “young at heart” can buy presents. Also included are jewellry tables, linen tables, knitting and fine porcelin and crystal tables. For more information, contact Parkdale United Church at 613 728-8656. Concerts the Maple Leaf Brass Band will be performing at are: Nov 09th at Canadian War Museum, Ottawa, ON Concert start at 7:00PM Nov 11th at St. Barnabas Church - Kent and James Streets, Ottawa, ON concert starts at 8:00PM Nov 26th at Manotick United Church, Manotick, On concert start at 3:00PM Please watch our website http://www.mapleleafbrassband.org/ concerts.htm for more concert details 260 Fingers Pottery Show. 26 Potters at the Glebe Community Centre, Nov 10 – 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. and Nov. 11 & 12 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.. For more info call 613-256-6522. Abbotsford Annual Bazaar - For some of the best deals in town be sure to visit the Abbotsford Annual Bazaar on Saturday, November 25th from 10:30 am – 2:30 pm. We are azaarjust what you’re looking for with our vast selection of gift ideas including handcrafts, home baking, jewelry, children’s toys, flea market, ornaments, and books. Don’t forget our very popular Silent Auction where your bid could entitle you to a fabulous gift such as hand-made quilts, valuable antiques or collector’s items. So mark your calendars now – you won’t want to miss it! For information, call 613230-5730. Messiah - Ottawa has a rare chance to experience Messiah as Handel himself often chose to present it – with boy choristers singing the soprano parts. Christ Church Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys are to perform this great oratorio under the direction of Organist and Director of Music, Matthew Larkin on 26 November at 3pm at the Cathedral. Tickets from Cathedral Arts Box Office, 420 Sparks Street, tel. 613 567 1787. For more details: www. ottawa.anglican.ca/cathedral The Good Companions Christmas Bazaar - Get your Christmas shopping done! Handmade items for the whole family; Home baking; “White Elephant” room; and a “Silent Auction”. Join us on S a t u r d a y , December 2, 2006, From 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. At The Good Companions - Seniors Centre 670 Albert Street (at Empress). Our tea room will be open from 9:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. For additional information, please call Heidi Mersich at 613-236-0428, extension 270. The Good Companions is a non-profit registered charitable organization. December 3 St. Margaret Mary’s Christmas Bazaar, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Noon Christmas Carols Sing, lunch, healthy frozen dinners, unique hostess gifts and crafts, baked goods, delicious preserves, children’s corner, turkey raffle, collectibles table. Sunnyside and Fairbairn. The Christmas concert of the Ottawa Welsh Choral Society is Sunday, December 10, at 3:00 pm and takes place at St. Giles Presbyterian Church, Bank St. at First Ave. The choir will be singing Christmas music in English and Welsh. Bytown Voices Christmas Concert, featuring Daniel Pinkham’s ‘Christmas Cantata’ with brass accompaniment, Christmas carols for 2 choirs- guest choir St. Luke’s Anglican Church choir- and other seasonal music, on Sunday Dec. 10th, 3.00 p.m. at St. Basil’s Church, on the east side of Maitland Ave. immediately north of Queensway, Free parking, Wheelchair accessible, Tickets $10.00 adult, $5.00 students, information 613-563-7044 Musical Volunteers needed to entertain residents at The Glebe Centre Inc. Specifically during the Happy Hour Program which runs Monday thru Saturday 3-4pm. Volunteers are asked to make a commitment to one shift per week. We are also seeking musical or talented volunteers to entertain throughout the facility for other scheduled programs. We are also recruiting a male Men’s Club leader to stimulate male discussion and explore various projects for a men’s group. Times and schedule would be determined by volunteer and staff supervisor. If you are interested in these or would like to learn more please contact 238-2727 ext 353 or volunteer@glebecentre.ca Annual Card Campaign funds Community Mental Health programs. Causeway Foundation has launched its sixth annual Holiday Card Campaign with two eight-card packages available at local stores for $10 per pack. This year’s theme is ‘Ottawa in Winter’ and the four original designs feature two striking photographs of Parliament Editor’s Thanks Thanks to all of you who have contributed to the content of this newspaper. You are the eyes and ears of this community newspaper. The OSCAR is an important way for us to communicate with each other. Through our community newspaper we are better able to have a sense of identity that helps to make us feel proud of the neighbourhood in which we live. Colin Ashford Mary Belotti Charles Billington Margret Brady Nankivell Karine Briand John Callan Frances Chambers Catherine Culley Don Cummer Brenna Dallaway Jennifer Davies Brian Donahue Lisa Drouillard Kim Ferguson Ailsa Francis Missy Fraser Leslie Fulton stephen a. haines Julian Hall James Hunter Julie Ireton Bob Jamieson Michael Jenkin Mike Lascelles Alison Lawson Gary Lum Deirdre McQuillan Karri Munn-Venn Edan Naumetz Mary P. Craig Piche Patrick Quealey Red Apron Louise Rickenbacker Peter Robinson Deanna Sclar Chris Simmons Doug Stickley Anna Sundin Rick Sutherland Sarah Trant tOM Trottier Ann Winters Lisa Xing Zoscha A special thanks to Peter E. Robinson for the time and effort he has taken to proof read the text as it arrives and after it has been placed in the layout, and for the cartoon on page 48 Hill and two paintings - skaters on the Rideau Canal; and the Tin House Courtyard in the ByWard Market. All four images are donated works by local artists. Causeway is a community mental health agency, and this year, 100% of funds raised will go to their Wellness Program offering exercise and nutrition aid to individuals suffering from a mental illness or other disability. Since initiated in 2001, the Card Campaign has raised more than $30,000 in support of Causeway’s employment, education and wellness programs. You can make this year’s Campaign a success by purchasing cards by telephoning 613-725-3494 ext. 28 or visit www.causewayfoundation. org to view the cards and the retail locations nearest you. Christ Church Cathedral Boys’ Choir is always open to new members, age 7-13. Any boy is welcome, regardless of previous musical experience or religious affiliation. This is an opportunity to learn a great deal about music in a safe and caring environment, make new friends, travel with the choir; in short this is an activity that can open a whole new window in a boys’ life. For more information, please contact Matthew Larkin on 613 236 9149 Ext.12 or by email at matthew-larkin@ottawa.anglican.ca. Visit the Cathedral website at www. ottawa.anglican.ca/cathedral ---------------------------------------------I am a new inhabitant of Old Ottawa South who is concerned about environmental and geopolitical issues as they affect our daily life. I am inviting like-minded concerned citizens to discuss similar concerns on November 11 and 12 at 3:00 p.m. with the possibility of viewing the award winning documentary The End of Suburbia. Call 613-730-6559. Lynn Graham Tribute Planned for January C ircle January 2007 on your calendars as a reminder of an upcoming evening -- date and venue to be confirmed -- to honour Lynn Graham for her dedication to public education here in Ottawa over the past 12 years. First elected in 1994 as a trustee with the former Ottawa Board of Education, Lynn has represented public school electors in Capital and Rideau-Vanier wards under the amalgamated Ottawa-Carleton District School Board since 1998. She did double duty during the past three years when she also served as Board Chair. During this time, Lynn has worked tirelessly on behalf of her electors as well as students right across the city. She leaves with a record that reflects her commitment to the public school system. Now it’s time for Lynn’s community – parents, colleagues and friends -- to say thank you. A mid-January event is being planned for the public to say good bye and wish her well in her new endeavours. Stay tuned for more details in the next OSCAR. In the meantime, if you want to get involved or can’t wait for more information, call Christine Wilson at 613-235-3079 or e-mail her at wilsonchristine@ rogers.com The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR NOVEMBER 2006 Your A Rent Page 47 Marketplace Wife Household Organizers “Every working woman needs a wife!” Regular & Occasional cleaning Pre & Post move cleaning and packing Pre & Post renovation cleaning Blitz & Spring cleaning Organizing cupboards, basements... Perhaps a waitress ??? Laurel 749-2249 rent-a-wife-ottawa.com RELIABLE, QUALITY CARE RPN (38 years experience) Relief for Family Caregiver Private Duty Palliative Care Provided By Michael Moynahan 730-4957 Cell: 240-9394 45 Ossington Avenue Ottawa, Ontario K1S 3B5 613-730-0746 Fax: 613-730-4222 Email: gstokoe@rogers.com Carsharing for Ottawa www.gordonstokoearchitect.com The only good car is a shared car 24/7 access to small Toyotas for trips as short as 1/2-hr. Reserve by web/phone. Gas & collision insurance included. www.vrtucar.com ENVIRONMENTALLYFRIENDLY CLEANING One-time, weekly, bi-monthly or monthly. Six years experience. Insured and Bonded 613-798-1900 Glebe Craft &Artisan Fair Glebe Communtity Centre 175 Third Avenue Nov 17 - 6 to 9 pm Nov 18 - 10 am to 5 pm Nov 19 10 am to 4 pm Free Admission For info - 613-233-8713 or 564-1058 info@gnag.ca CALL 729-2751 Bilingual Supervisors Astolot Educational Centre Tutoring Grades 1 to 12 English / French After School Club 260-5996 Housecleaning Service Excellent Cleaning Reliable Thorough Efficient 613-565-8248 for A4 program needed Immediately Academie Westboro Academy Across from Carleton U Please call: Y. Munter at 737-9543 EXTRA MILE RENOVATIONS Need a deck, porch or fence built this summer? Does your kitchen, bathroom or basement need updating or finishing? Local renovator experienced with old houses. Creative and reasonably priced. 297-8079 The OSCAR Page 48 - OUR 31st YEAR NOVEMBER 2006 CLASSY ADS CLASSY ADS are free for Old Ottawa South residents (except for businesses or for business activity) and must be submitted in writing to: The OSCAR, at the Old Firehall, 260 Sunnyside, or sent by email to oscar@oldottawasouth.ca by the deadline. Your name and contact information (phone number or email address) must be included. Only your contact info will appear unless you specify otherwise. The editor retains the right to edit or exclude submissions. The OSCAR takes no responsibility for items, services or accurary. For business advertising inquiries, call 730-1058. For Sale Cell phone, excellent condition. Samsung e316 with full colour display and digital camera. Comes with a new (never used) SIM card, leather phone case, charger, ear bud headset and car charger. Gently used. $150 for everything. 613-730-4450. ----------------------------------------------For Sale 4 Motormaster “Nordic Icetrac” tires (P185/65R15) on rims (6J x 15 x 43). Tires used two winters, approximately 20km. Original 1994 rims. $400 with Volvo winter hub caps included. Craig 613.730.5838 ----------------------------------------------Apartment size piano for sale. A Lesage piano in a deep and beautifully finished moghany wood - comes with bench designed to compliment piano. A great choice for a piano student. Asking $1,200 or best offer. ----------------------------------------------Heavy duty Panasonic upright vacuum cleaner with all attachments. Cost $329. Asking $60. Excellent condition. 613730-4450. ----------------------------------------------Electric Keyboard (Yamaha PSR - 292) with stand. Purchased in 2004 at a cost of $400. In excellent condition. Selling for $250 or best offer. Contact Julie at # (613) 260-2221. ----------------------------------------------- Winter Snow Tire Package (Mercedes, Bmw....) 4 Michelin Pilot Alpin Tires mounted on - 4 Alloy Rims Size 225/45 R17 Excellent Condition-$1200 Call 613 730 4448 email lizart1@rogers. com ----------------------------------------------Gorgeous antique off-white ball in claw foot wing chair - a bargain @ $150.00 2 Black 3-panel folding screens - $35 pair Black iron firewood holder $15. Antique set of fireplace tools $35 613-730-3385 Brio roller $95. We love it, but our child has outgrown it. Sturdy metal frame, fully reclining, forward or backward facing, basket underneath, large tires, good for winter, canal, etc. (613) 7307051. ----------------------------------------------For Sale - Many Various Items Kid items: Ikea Castle tent, collapsable in a bag (3’L x 3’W x 4’H) ($5) Patio items: Dark blue plastic patio lounge chair and cushion, never used ($10), Set of 6 matching dark blue patio chairs ($6) Furniture: Painted dark green wood coffee table and ottoman (set $5). Large futon, mahogany finish with 2 covers ($60) Downhill skis: Elan R5C MBX racing skis - Marker MRR bindings, excellent condition, length: 205cm ($30); Elan intermediate/Advanced skis, Salomon bindings used 4 times Length: 160 ($30) Artificial Christmas tree: In box, 7 feet tall Majestic Fir ($20) Dog crate: travel crate, plastic casing/metal front grill, for medium/ large size dog ($15) Motor bike helmet: Bieffe, black, full face, small, size 56 ($15) Call 730-1207 in evenings or weekends ----------------------------------------------For Sale - Teak Finish wall unit, 70” x 46” x 15” (H x W x D), $40. Please call 613-730-2440. To Give Away Benchpress with weights.Free! 613 730 3007 Wanted 50’s and 60’s Jazz LPs Are they sitting in your basement gathering dust, but you just don’t know what to do with them? I’m a guy in the neighbourhood who just re-set-up a turntable and is discovering this wonderful era of music. Perhaps you could face letting your old jazz LP’s go, if you knew they were going to a good home. Let’s talk; I am not a record dealer. 613-730-5143 For Rent For Rent: Charming, renovated 3bedroom semi-detached house in Old Ottawa South, 1/2 block to Rideau River park and 4 blocks to canal. Fenced yard, parking. Close to buses, schools and shopping. $1500 + heat + hydro. 613-730-0739. ----------------------------------------------House To Rent / Furnished Large, comfortable home on Glen Ave. Fully furnished and equipped. Three bedrms, two bthrms, den w/fp, gardens, decks and pkg for two cars. Available Nov. 1st - May 1st (some flexibility) 613-730-7921 Child &Housekeeping Babysitter Wanted....we are recent arrivals in OOS and are looking for an occasional babysitter for our two boys - ages 6 and 8. We need a responsible, non smoking sitter who is available 1 evening a week and who has excellent references. Call Kevin or Paula evenings at 613-730-8017. Qualified elementary school teacher has space in OOS/Glebe area home daycare. Home has fully equipped playroom and fenced yard. Close to parks. Bilingual, CPR and First Aid certified. Good rates. Call 239-1607. Looking For Looking for a handy person to do some small jobs e.g. putting up drapery rods, hanging towel bars, shutting off water etc. Please call Kathryn at 730-2901 for more details and $ per hour.